HIS  OLD  HilbNDS 

AND  HIS  NEW  FRIEND 


DEC    l  1914 


A 


Qloeiui  sosS 


lmv.mod      135)41 5" 

ScctiOQ  J    1 


JOB 


HIS  OLD  FRIENDS 
AND  HIS  NEW  FRIEND 

ALSO 

A  STUDY  OF  WHAT 

THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  MEANS  TO 

ALL  MANKIND 


BY  A  PLAIN  MAN,  WHO  HAS  ABOUT  FINISHED 

WITH  WHAT  IS  CALLED  BUSINESS,  AND 

WRITES  FROM  EXPERIENCES,  NOT 

ENTIRELY  UNLIKE  THOSE  OF 


JOB 


Published  from  a  thankful  sense 
of  duty  which  the  writer  owes 
to  God  our  Father,  to  Christ  our 
Saviour,    and  to  our  fellow    men 

By    JOHN    S.     HAWLEY 
"LET  YOUR  LIGHT  SHtNE" 


Press  of 
FRYE  &  SMITH 
San  Diegro,  Cal. 


Copyright,  1912 

By  JOHN  S.  HAWLEY 

San  Diego,  California 

All   rights  reserved 


MISTAKEN  JOB 

Wandering  in  the  wilderness- 
Worshiping  the  worldy  god — 
Deceived  by  Behemoth — 
Finally  sees  a  guiding  light  and    becomes 

REGENERATED  JOB 

Purified  through  suffering — 
Chastened  through  experience — 
Instructed  by  the  Voice — 
lastly  exemplifies  and  illustrates 

REGENERATED  MAN 

Redeemed  through  Truth. 


\\ 


v\ 


> 


/\ 


2nd 


Physical  Man  The  Human  Mind. 

"Our  Frame."  The  Great  Unreliable. 

Our  Earthly  House.  The  Adam  Man. 

Dust  of  the  Ground.  "Of  Evil." 

Visible.  "Carnal  Mind." 

Subject  to  Disease.  Will-power. 

Mortal.  Invisible. 

Subject  to  Sin. 
Both  these  are  of  the  earth,  earthy. 


Spiritual  Man. 

Life;  Truth;  Soul. 

"Image'  and  Likeness.' 

Perfect  and  Immortal. 

Invisible. 

Not  Subject  to  Sin, 

Disease  nor  Death. 

$^~  (See  next  page). 


PROPORTIONAL  MAN. 

This  idea  is  derived  from  an  experience  that  came  to  the 
author  in  his  early  life,  though  not  then  comprehended.  It 
is  supported  by  observations  and  recollections  during  sev- 
enty years,  while  controlled  by  the  "Thinking  Man." 

Spiritual  Man  does  not  plan,  scheme  or  plot,  but  his 
thoughts  are  in  accord  with  Spirit,  God,  whose  likeness  he  is. 


EXPLANATION. 

1st  Line. — Fleshly  man;  man  that  is  born  of  woman,;  of 
few  days;  flesh  and  blood;  like  a  cancelled  envelope, 
worthless  after  using.     (Ps.  103:15-16.) 

2nd  Line. — Reasoning  man ;  the  unlikeness  of  God ;  the 
Adam-man — married  to  a  part  of  his  own  humanity 
(his  "rib")  ;  the  carnal  mind  not  subject  to  the  law  of 
Good;  selfish;  crooked;  presumptuous;  changeable; 
sometimes  right,  but  probably  more  frequently 
wrong;  placing  "knowledge"  before  wisdom;  proud 
(See  1st  Tim.  6:4-5)*;  willing  to  confer  with  Satan; 
seeing  his  wants  but  not  knowing  his  needs;  a  dealer 
in  troubles;  developing  and  decaying,  as  the  man  of 
dust,  for  he  is  "of  the  earth,  earthy."  (See  1st  Cor. 
15:47-48.) 
The   1st  and  2nd"  lines   relate  to  humanity — that  is, 

the  human  body  and  the  physical  senses. 

3rd  Line. — The  Real  MAN,  having  Life  eternal ;  the 
image  and  likeness  of  God;  the  "inner  man";  the  per- 
fect and  eternal;  the  apparent  "sleeper"  that  must  be 
awakened;  the  Christ-like  element  which  must  have 
dominion  over  all,  from  the  "fish  of  the  sea"  to  "every 
creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth"!  "Thy 
righteousness  and  Thy  judgment."  (Ps.  37:6.) 
As  man  advances  in  the  "truth  that  shall  make  him 

free",  the  3rd  line  will  be  the  enduring,  and  finally  will 

illustrate  the  Bible  declaration,  "the  last  shall  be  first". 

Life.   Spirit.    God.    Truth. 

The  true  lesson  of  this  concept  is  the  superiority  of  the 

spiritual    over    the    material ;    of    wisdom     over    knowl- 

*He  is  proud,  knowing  nothing,  but  doting  about  questions  and 
strifes  of  words,  whereof  cometh  envy,  strife,  railings,  evil  surmisings. 

Perverse  disputings  of  men  of  corrupt  minds,  and  destitute  of  the 
truth,  supposing  that  gain  is  godliness:  from  such  withdraw  thyself. 
(I  Tim.  6:4.-5.) 


edge.  Spiritual  wisdom,  comes  through  inspiration  and 
revelation,  a  divine  source,  always  unerringly  true:  from 
Spirit  which  is  God.  So  has  it  been  from  the  beginning 
even  till  now ! 

THE  GREAT — UNRELIABLE. 

Human  knowledge  comes  from  a  human  source 
called  thought,  against  which  Jesus  warns  mankind  in 
the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  (Matt.  5:37;  6:27-37).  This 
thought  is  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  knowledge,  and  though 
it  clothes  itself  with  what  it  is  pleased  to  call  learning, 
with  its  numberless  offsprings  and  subdivisions,  yet  is  it 
unsubstantial,  because  it  is  liable  to  change,  and  therefore 
uncertain  and  not  to  be  depended  upon.  Many  things 
which  it  considered  in  the  past  as  truths,  it  now  regards 
as  falsities.  Even  the  mind  of  the  greatest  human  phil- 
osopher is  often  mistaken,  and  when  it  quietly  looks  at 
itself  in  the  mirror  of  truth,  it  beholds  its  own  deformity. 
The  thinking  man  (human)  "is  of  the  earth,  earthy". 


"It  is  written,  I  will  destroy  the  wisdom  of  the  wise, 
and  wilf  bring  to  nothing  the  understanding  of  the  pru- 
dent. .  .  .  Hath  not  God  made  foolish  the  wisdom  of 
this  world?"     (1st  Cor.  5:19r20.) 


PREFACE 

Let  me  not  be  presumptuous.  Let  me  not  depend 
only  upon  opinions  formed  within  my  own  human 
thought.  Let  me  not  be  governed  by  selfishness,  nor  a 
willingness  to  disregard  the  opinions  of  others  whose  be- 
liefs are  expressed  in  earnestness  and  sincerity.  Neither 
let  me  insist  on  my  own  correctness.  Rather  do  I  pray 
for  guidance  from  a  source  higher  than  human  under- 
standing. While  desiring  to  be  considerate  to  all  who 
have  sought  and  are  seeking  a  true  understanding  of 
the  Bible,  I  am  unable.always  to  agree  with  them;  there- 
fore it  becomes  my  duty  to  reply:  "Let  us  choose  to  us 
judgment;  let  us  know  among  ourselves  what  is  good." 
(Job  34:4.)  I  have  listened  to  them  and  will  be  thank- 
ful if  they  will  listen  to  me  while  I  do  my  best  to  explain 
a  concept  of  the  meaning  of  one  of  the  books  of  the  Bible 
which  'differs  somewhat  from  theirs. 

A  philosopher  writes  of  philosophy,  though  never 
claiming  to  fully  understand  his  subject.  An  electrician 
speaks  of  electricity,  while  realizing  he  knows  only  the 
rudiments  of  its  force.  A  chemist  observes  certain  ef- 
fects, but  can  only  partially  explain  them.  So  also  a 
student  of  the  Bible,  or  one  of  its  grand  books,  must  con- 
fess that  he  comprehends  but  a  part  of  its  meaning. 
However,  there  always  may  be  value  in  honest  deduc- 
tions. No  man  can  claim  perfection,  but  improvement 
is  open  to  all. 

Those  who  read  the  book  of  Job,  and  even  those  who 
desire  to  study  it,  are  apt  to  look  for  its  grandest  lessons 
in  the  arguments  and  sayings  of  the  subject  and  his  three 


I  PREFACE 

old  companions,  in  which  there  is  so  much  to  engage  at- 
tention; so  much  of  reasoning,  so  many  comparisons,  so 
many  aphorisms  and  so  large  an  amount  of  good  advice 
withal.  Absorbed  with  thoughts  of  these  and  perhaps 
a  little  wearied  with  them,  they  are  inclined  to  hurry 
through  what  is  said  by  the  young  man  Elihu,  and  are 
thoughtlessly  impressed  with  the  idea  that  he  merely 
continues  the  reproving  sayings  of  the  older  men. 

Such  readers  or  students  fail  perhaps  to  comprehend 
this  ancient  forerunner,  who  was  sent  to  speak  "in  God's 
stead"  (Chap.  33:6).  So  far  as  I  know,  this  affirmation 
of  Elihu  is  either  denied  or  ignored  by  practically  all 
sectarians.  Those  who  so  deny  or  ignore,  have  a  right  to 
their  opinions,  but  the  writer  can  neither  agree  with 
them  nor  admit  their  value,  for  from  such  careful  study 
as  is  possible  for  him,  comes  the  belief  that  the  grandest 
words  of  instruction  in  the  book  of  Job  are  found  in  the 
words  of  Elihu  and  in  those  which  followed  from  the 
voice  out  of  the  whirlwind.  There  also  comes  to  him  the 
further  belief  that  the  book  of  Job  allegorically  illustrates 
arid  exemplifies  the  coming  of  the  Christ  to  man  and 
mankind,  in  all  ages;  the  forever  Christ  who  was  "be- 
fore Abraham"  and  "before  the  world  was". 

Furthermore,  I  believe  the  book  typifies  the  regenera- 
tion and  final  redemption  of  all  of  Adam's  mistaken  and 
sinning  race,  through  the  discernment  and  realization  of 
the  ever-present  influence  of  that  power  which  comes  to 
man  from  God  (Good),  through  the  Christ— the  Saviour 
— who  said,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the 
*end  of  the  world".  This  influence,  to  human  eyes  unseen 
and  by  human  understanding  scarcely  recognized,  is  only 
developed  through  a  spiritual  awakening  such  as  came  to 
Job  from  the  wonderful  speech  of  Elihu,  whose  inspired 
words  were  far  in  advance  of  those  who  had  preceded 


PREFACE  * 

him.  This  culminating  speech  enabled  Job  to  discern  the 
voice  of  Truth.  But  Jesus  said,  "Elias  truly  shall  first 
come". 

Perhaps  even  those  who  have  tried  to  read  and  study 
the  Bible  with  closest  care  may  incline  to  pass  lightly 
over  the  speech  of  Elihu,  because  he  begins  in  a  manner 
so  boyish  and  unpresuming.  He  expresses  modesty, 
sympathy  and  kindness,  which  gracefully  change  to 
steadiness  and  firmness,  as  he  answers  the  four  older 
men,  with  "knowledge  from  afar",  which  soon  engages 
their  amazed  and  attentive  interest.  And  as  he  proceeds 
this  interest  increases.  And  so,  even  in  this  age,  those 
who  will  read  and  carefully  study  the  chapters  of  the 
book  of  Job  from  the  32nd  to  the  37th,  inclusive,  may  in- 
deed find  a  forerunner  of  the  understanding  of  Spiritual 
Truth,  a  gleam  of  dawn,  which  precedes  and  portends  the 
coming  of  day.  Even  as  this  dawning  came  to  Job  thou- 
sands of  years  ago,  so  it  may  come  in  every  age  to  the 
sincerely  earnest  seeker  for  spiritual  light,  which  "shin- 
eth  in  darkness;  and  the  darkness  comprehended  it  not". 

In  publishing  this  little  book,  it  is  right  to  say  that 
any  man  who  has  encountered  and  survived  suffering, 
pain,  discouragement  and  despair,  "so  that  his  life  ab- 
horreth  bread",  and  "which  long  for  death,  but  it  Com- 
eth not",  should  be  better  prepared  to  study  and  com- 
prehend Job  than  those  who  have  not  passed  through 
such  conditions.  The  school  of  experience  closes  not  its 
doors.  My  reason  for  this  undertaking  is  to  bring  out 
an  understanding  of  the  book,  which  is  built  upon  and 
sustained  by  experience,  even  more  than  by  study,  and 
grander  far  than  experience  is  revelation. 

It  is  said  that  there  is  a  certain  amount  of  selfishness 
in  every  human  act.  I  will  not  deny  the  assertion  nor 
waste  time  in  considering  its  truth  or  untruth.     But  this 


10  PREFACE 

I  am  happy  to  realize,  namely:  if  selfishness  has  anything 
to  do  with  my  motive,  it  is  only  in  minimum  proportion. 
For,  to  all  human  appearance,  I  am  an  old  man,  well  past 
the  "three  score  and  ten".  Most  of  my  old  friends,  and 
all  of  my  cousins  (of  whom  there  were  about  fifty)  have 
passed  beyond  this  stage  of  existence  and  I  am  left 
standing  alone,  like  an  old  tree — though  with  still  a  few 
green  leaves.  I  have  little  or  no  ambition  for  personal 
advancement,  neither  does  "poverty  or  riches"  disturb 
or  influence  me  (Prov.  30:8).  I  am  better  off  than  the 
great  bankers  and  capitalists  of  Europe  or  America,  for 
I  have  enough,  while  they  have  too  much.  Pity  these 
poor  men ! 

So  far  as  I  can  understand,  the  motive  for  publishing 
this  book  is  unselfish  and  springs  purely  and  happily 
from  a  desire  to  benefit  my  fellow  men.  With  such  re- 
sources of  language  as  are  herein  embodied,  I  have  en- 
deavored to  do  my  duty.  I  appreciate  theology,  the 
churches,  schools  and  colleges  in  that  which  is  practical 
and  useful,  to  the  end  that  "all  things  be  done  decently 
and  in  order".  Nevertheless,  the  needs  of  humanity  are 
not  fully  met  by  pulpit  oratory  or  literary  pride,  which 
not  infrequently  draw  their  votaries  away  from  obedience 
to  the  first  commandment. 

But  if  a  man  shall  speak  or  write  solely  from  sincere 
desire  to  do  that  which  may  be  useful,  I  believe  he  will 
not  only  do  his  best  but  he  will  be  aided  through  ideas 
that  come  from  the  infinite  source  of  all  good.  His 
earnest  and  unselfish  desire  for  betterment  to  all  is  a 
constant  prayer.  And  more  and  more,  as  he  proceeds, 
will  he  depend-  upon  and  be  aided  by  this  steadfast 
desire. 

Just  what  influence  has  impelled  me  to  work  in  this 
field,  I  cannot  describe;  but  I  am  conscious  of  support 


PREFACE  11 

from  an  honest  endeavor  to  labor  for  the  right.  The 
work  has  been  done  mostly  in  the  early  hours  of  the 
morning,  and  has  been  a  pleasant  experience. 

Criticism,  always  looking  for  defects,  will,  of  course, 
find  them.  But  hoping  and  trusting  in  the  Divine 
Power,  I  also  hope  and  trust  that  those  readers  who  are 
looking  for  the  good  and  true,  will  not  be  entirely  dis- 
appointed. Let  us  all  try  to  get  on  the  right  side  of 
things. 

The  Author. 


The  book  divides  itself  into  four  parts  : 

First,  the  story  of  human  troubles. 

Second,  the  story  of  human  reasoning. 

Third,  the  dawning  of  Spiritual  light. 

Fourth,  the  unfolding  of  Spiritual  under- 
standing with  its  Divine,  unerring  and 
unmistakable  proof  of  the  vast  superi- 
ority of  that  which  is  Spiritual,  over 
that  which  is  obtained  through  or  by 
human  reason. 

This  is  the  grand  lesson  of  regenerated 
Job  to  mankind ! 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

CHAPTER  I. 

THERE  was  a  man  in  the  land  of  Uz,  whose  name  was 
Job;  and  that  man  was  perfect  and  upright,  and  one 
that  feared  God,  and  eschewed  evil. 

2  And  there  were  born  unto  him  seven  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

3  His  substance  also  was  seven  thousand  sheep,  and 
three  thousand  camels,  and  five  hundred  yoke  of  oxen,  and 
five  hundred  she  asses,  and  a  very  great  household ;  so  that 
this  man  was  the  greatest  of  all  the  men  of  the  east. 

4  And  his  sons  went  and  feasted  in  their  houses,  every 
one  his  day;  and  sent  and  called  for  their  three  sisters  to 
eat  and  to  drink  with  them. 

5  And  it  was  so,  when  the  days  of  their  feasting  were 
gone  about,  that  Job  sent  and  sanctified  them,  and  rose  up 
early  in  the  morning,  and  offered  burnt  offerings  according 
to  the  number  of  them  all :  for  Job  said,  It  may  be  that  my 
sons  have  sinned,  and  cursed  God  in  their  hearts.  Thus  did 
Job  continually. 

6  fl  Now  there  was  a  day  when  the  sons  of  God  came 
to  present  themselves  before  the  Lord,  and  Satan  came  also 
among  them. 

7  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  Whence  comest  thou  ? 
Then  Satan  answered  the  Lord,  and  said,  From  going  to  and 
fro  in  the  earth,  and  from  walking  up  and  down  in  it. 

8  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  I  last  thou  considered 

my  servant  Job,  that  there  is  none  like  him  in  the  earth,  a 

perfect  and  an  upright  man,  one  that    tea  ret h   God,   and 

escheweth  evil  .' 

13 


14  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

9  Then  Satan  answered  the  Lord,  and  said,  Doth  Job 
fear  God  for  nought  ? 

10  Hast  not  thou  made  an  hedge  about  him,  and  about 
his  house,  and  about  all  that  he  hath  on  every  side?  thou 
hast  blessed  the  work  of  his  hands,  and  his  substance  is  in- 
creased in  the  land. 

11  But  put  forth  thine  hand  now,  and  touch  all  that 
he  hath,  and  he  will  curse  thee  to  thy  face. 

12  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  Behold,  all  that  he 
hath  is  in  thy  power ;  only  upon  himself  put  not  forth  thine 
hand.    So  Satan  went  forth  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 

13  fl  And  there  was  a  day  when  his  sons  and  his 
daughters  were  eating  and  drinking  wine  in  their  eldest 
brother 's  house : 

14  And  there  came  a  messenger  unto  Job,  and  said, 
The  oxen  were  plowing,  and  the  asses  feeding  beside  them : 

15  And  the  Sabeans  fell  upon  them,  and  took  them 
away;  yea,  they  have  slain  the  servants  with  the  edge  of 
the  sword ;  and  I  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 

16  While  he  was  yet  speaking,  there  came  also  another, 
and  said,  The  fire  of  God  is  fallen  from  heaven,  and  hath 
burned  up  the  sheep,  and  the  servants,  and  consumed  them ; 
and  I  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 

17  While  he  was  yet  speaking,  there  came  also  another, 
and  said,  The  Chaldeans  made  out  three  bands,  and  fell 
upon  the  camels,  and  have  carried  them  away,  yea,  and 
slain  the  servants  with  the  edge  of  the  sword;  and  I  only 
am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 

18  While  he  ivas  yet  speaking,  there  came  also  another, 
and  said,  Thy  sons  and  thy  daughters  were  eating  and  drink- 
ing wine  in  their  eldest  brother's  house: 

19  And,  behold,  there  came  a  great  wind  from  the 
wilderness,  and  smote  the  four  corners  of  the  house,  and  it 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  15 

fell  upon  the  young  men,  and  they  are  dead;  and  I  only 
am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 

20  Then  Job  arose,  and  rent  his  mantle,  and  shaved 
his  head,  and  fell  down  upon  the  ground,  and  worshipped, 

21  And  said,  Naked  came  I  out  of  my  mother's  womb, 
and  naked  shall  I  return  thither:  the  Lord  gave,  and  the 
Lord  hath  taken  away ;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

22  In  all  this  Job  sinned  not,  nor  charged  God  foolishly. 

CHAPTER  2. 

AGAIN  there  was  a  day  when  the  sons  of  God  came  to 
present  themselves  before  the  Lord,  and  Satan  came 
also  among  them  to  present  himself  before  the  Lord. 

2  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  From  whence  comest 
thou  ?  And  Satan  answered  the  Lord,  and  said,  From  going 
to  and  fro  in  the  earth,  and  from  walking  up  and  down 
in  it. 

3  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  Hast  thou  considered 
my  servant  Job,  that  there  is  none  like  him  in  the  earth,  a 
perfect  and  an  unright  man,  one  that  feareth  God,  and 
escheweth  evil?  and  still  he  holdeth  fast  his  integrity,  al- 
though thou  movedst  me  against  him,  to  destroy  him  with- 
out cause. 

4  And  Satan  answered  the  Lord,  and  said,  Skin  for 
skin,  yea,  all  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for  his  life. 

5  But  put  forth  thine  hand  now,  and  touch  his  bone 
and  his  flesh,  and  he  will  curse  thee  to  thy  face. 

6  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  Behold,  he  is  in  thine 
hand ;  but  save  his  life. 

7  fl  So  went  Satan  forth  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 
and  smote  Job  with  sore  boils  from  the  sole  of  his  foot  unto 
his  crown. 

8  And  he  took  him  a  potsherd  to  scrape  himself  withal ; 
and  he  sat  down  among  the  ashes. 


16  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

9  ft  Then  said  his  wife  unto  him,  Dost  thou  still  retain 
thine  integrity?  curse  God,  and  die. 

10  But  he  said  unto  her,  Thou  speakest  as  one  of  the 
foolish  women  speaketh.  What  ?  shall  we  receive  good  at  the 
hand  of  God,  and  shall  we  not  receive  evil  ?  In  all  this  did 
not  Job  sin  with  his  lips. 

11  ft  Now  when  Job's  three  friends  heard  of  all  this  evil 
that  was  come  upon  him,  they  came  every  one  from  his  own 
place;  Eliphaz  the  Temanite,  and  Bildad  the  Shuhite,  and 
Zophar  the  Naamathite :  for  they  had  made  an  appointment 
together  to  come  to  mourn  with  him  and  to  comfort  him. 

12  And  when  they  lifted  up  their  eyes  afar  off,  and 
knew  him  not,  they  lifted  up  their  voice,  and  wept;  and 
they  rent  every  one  his  mantle,  and  sprinkled  dust  upon 
their  heads  toward  heaven. 

13  So  they  sat  down  with  him  upon  the  ground  seven 
days  and  seven  nights,  and  none  spake  a  word  unto  him: 
for  they  saw  that  his  grief  was  very  great. 

CHAPTER  3. 

AFTER  this  opened  Job  his  mouth,  and  cursed  his  day. 
2    And  Job  spake,  and  said, 

3  Let  the  day  perish  wherein  I  was  born,  and  the  night 
in  which  it  was  said,  There  is  a  man  child  conceived. 

4  Let  that  day  be  darkness ;  let  not  God  regard  it  from 
above,  neither  let  the  light  shine  upon  it. 

5  Let  darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death  stain  it ;  let 
a  cloud  dwell  upon  it ;  let  the  blackness  of  the  day  terrify  it. 

6  As  for  that  night,  let  darkness  seize  upon  it ;  let  it  not 
be  joined  unto  the  days  of  the  year,  let  it  not  come  into  the 
number  of  the  months. 

7  Lo,  let  that  night  be  solitary,  let  no  joyful  voice  come 
therein. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  17 

8  Let  them  curse  it  that  curse  the  day,  who  are  ready 
to  raise  up  their  mourning. 

9  Let  the  stars  of  the  twilight  thereof  he  dark;  let  it 
look  for  light,  but  have  none ;  neither  let  it  see  the  dawning 
of  the  day : 

10  Because  it  shut  not  up  the  doors  of  my  mother's 
womb,  nor  hid  sorrow  from  mine  eyes. 

11  Why  died  I  not  from  the  womb?  why  did  I  not 
give  up  the  ghost  when  I  came  out  of  the  belly? 

12  Why  did  the  knees  prevent  me?  or  why  the  breasts 
that  I  should  suck? 

13  For  now  should  I  have  lain  still  and  been  quiet,  I 
should  have  slept :  then  had  I  been  at  rest, 

14  With  kings  and  counsellors  of  the  earth,  which  built 
desolate  places  for  themselves; 

15  Or  with  princes  that  had  gold,  who  filled  their 
houses  with  silver: 

16  Or  as  an  hidden  untimely  birth  I  had  not  been; 
as  infants  which  never  saw  light. 

17  There  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling;  and  there 
the  weary  be  at  rest. 

18  There  the  prisoners  rest  together;  they  hear  not 
the  voice  of  the  oppressor. 

19  The  small  and  great  are  there;  and  the  servant  is 
free  from  his  master. 

20  Wherefore  is  light  given  to  him  that  is  in  misery, 
and  life  unto  the  bitter  in  soul ; 

21  Which  long  for  death,  but  it  cometh  not;  ami  dig 
for  it  more  than  for  hid  treasures; 

22  Which  rejoice  exceedingly,  and  are  glad,  when  they 
can  find  the  grave  ? 

23  Why  is  light  given  to  a  man  whose  way  is  hid.  and 
whom  God  hath  hedged  in? 


18  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

24  For  my  sighing  cometh  before  I  eat,  and  my  roar- 
ings are  poured  out  like  the  waters. 

25  For  the  thing  which  I  greatly  feared  is  come  upon 
me,  and  that  which  I  was  afraid  of  is  come  unto  me. 

26  I  was  not  in  safety,  neither  had  I  rest,  neither  was 
I  quiet;  yet  trouble  came. 


CHAPTER  4. 

THEN  Eliphaz  the  Temanite  answered  and  said, 
2    //  we  assay  to  commune  with  thee,  wilt  thou  be 
grieved?  but  who  can  withhold  himself  from  speaking. 

3  Behold,  thou  hast  instructed  many,  and  thou  hast 
strengthened  the  weak  hands. 

4  Thy  words  have  upholden  him  that  was  falling,  and 
thou  hast  strengthened  the  feeble  knees. 

5  But  now  it  is  come  upon  thee,  and  thou  faintest;  it 
toucheth  thee,  and  thou  art  troubled. 

6  Is  not  this  thy  fear,  thy  confidence,  thy  hope,  and 
the  uprightness  of  thy  ways? 

7  Remember,   I  pray  thee  who   ever  perished,  being 
innocent  ?  or  where  were  the  righteous  cut  off  ? 

8  Even  as  I  have  seen,  they  that  plow  iniquity,  and 
sow  wickedness,  reap  the  same. 

9  By  the  blast  of  God  they  perish,  and  by  the  breath 
of  his  nostrils  are  they  consumed. 

10  The  roaring  of  the  lion,  and  the  voice  of  the  fierce 
lion,  and  the  teeth  of  the  young  lions,  are  broken. 

11  The  old  lion  perisheth  for  lack  of  prey,  and  the 
-stout  lion's  whelps  are  scattered  abroad. 

12  Now  a  thing  was  secretly  brought  to  me,  and  mine 
ear  received  a  little  thereof. 

13  In  thoughts  from  the  visions  of  the  night,  when  deep 
sleep  falleth  on  men, 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  19 

14  Fear  came  upon  me,  and  trembling,  which  made 
all  my  bones  to  shake. 

15  Then  a  spirit  passed  before  my  face;  the  hair  of 
my  flesh  stood  up : 

16  It  stood  still,  but  I  could  not  discern  the  form 
thereof:  an  image  urns  before  mine  eyes,  there  was  silence, 
and  I  heard  a  voice,  saying, 

17  Shall  mortal  man  be  more  just  than  God?  shall  a 
man  be  more  pure  than  his  maker? 

18  Behold,  he  put  no  trust  in  his  servants ;  and  his 
angels  he  charged  with  folly: 

19  How  much  less  in  them  that  dwell  in  house's  of 
clay,  whose  foundation  is  in  the  dust,  which  are  crushed 
before  the  moth? 

20  They  are  destroyed  from  morning  to  evening :  they 
perish  for  ever  without  any  regarding  it. 

21  Doth  not  their  excellency  which  is  in  them  go 
away?  they  die,  even  without  wisdom. 


CHAPTER  5. 

CALL  now,  if  there  be  any  that  will  answer  thee;  and 
to  which  of  the  saints  wilt  thou  turn? 

2  For  wrath  kdlleth  the  foolish  man,  and  envy  slayeth 
the  silly  one. 

3  I  have  seen  the  foolish  taking  root:  but  suddenly 
I  cursed  his  habitation. 

4  His  children  are  far  from  safety,  and  they  are 
crushed  in  the  gate,  neither  is  there  any  to  deliver  them. 

5  Whose  harvest  the  hungry  eateth  up,  and  taketh  it 
even  out  of  the  thorns,  and  the  robber  swalloweth  up  their 
substance. 

6  Although  affliction  cometh  not  forth  of  the  dust, 
neither  doth  trouble  spring  out  of  the  ground : 


20  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

7  Yet  man  is  born  unto  trouble,  as  the  sparks  fly  up- 
ward. 

8  I  would  seek  unto  God,  and  unto  God  would  I  com- 
mit my  cause: 

9  Which  doeth  great  things  and  unsearchable;  mar- 
vellous things  without  number: 

10  Who    giveth    rain    upon    the    earth,    and    sendeth 
waters  upon  the  fields: 

11  To  set  up  on  high  those  that  be  low;  that  those 
which  mourn  may  be  exalted  to  safety. 

12  He  disappointeth  the  devices  of  the  crafty,  so  that 
their  hands  cannot  perform  their  enterprise. 

13  He  taketh  the  wise  in  their  own  craftiness:  and 
the  counsel  of  the  froward  is  carried  headlong. 

14  They  meet  with  darkness  in  the  daytime,  and  grope 
in  the  noonday  as  in  the  night. 

15  But  he  saveth  the  poor  from  the  sword,  from  their 
mouth,  and  from  the  hand  of  the  mighty. 

16  So  the  poor  hath  hope,  and  iniquity  stoppeth  her 
mouth. 

17  Behold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God  correcteth: 
therefore  despise  not  thou  the  chastening  of  the  Almighty : 

18  For  he  maketh  sore,  and  bindeth  up :  he  woundeth, 
and  his  hands  make  whole. 

19  He  shall  deliver  thee  in  six  troubles :  yea,  in  seven 
there  shall  no  evil  touch  thee. 

20  In  famine  he  shall  redeem  thee  from  death :  and 
in  war  from  the  power  of  the  sword. 

21  Thou  shalt  be  hid  from  the  scourge  of  the  tongue : 
neither  shalt  thou  be  afraid  of  destruction  when  it  cometh. 

22  At    destruction    and    famine    thou    shalt    laugh : 
neither  shalt  thou  be  afraid  of  the  beasts  of  the  earth. 

23  For  thou  shalt  be  in  league  with  the  stones  of  the 
field :  and  the  beasts  of  the  field  shall  be  at  peace  with  thee. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  21 

24  And  thou  shalt  know  that  thy  tabernacle  shall  be 
in  peace;  and  thou  shalt  visit  thy  habitation,  and  shalt 
not  sin. 

25  Thou  shalt  know  also  that  thy  seed  shall  be  great, 
and  thine  offspring  as  the  grass  of  the  earth. 

26  Thou  shalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full  age,  like  as 
a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  in  his  season. 

27  Lo  this,  we  have  searched  it.  so  it  is;  hear  it,  and 
know  thou  it  for  thy  good. 

CHAPTER  6. 

BUT  Job  answered  and  said, 
2     Oh  that  my  grief  were  thoroughly  weighed,  and 
my  calamity  laid  in  the  balances  together ! 

3  For  now  it  would  be  heavier  than  the  sand  of  the 
sea :  therefore  my  words  are  swallowed  up. 

4  For  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty  are  within  me,  the 
poison  whereof  drinketh  up  my  spirit:  the  terrors  of  God 
do  set  themselves  in  array  against  me. 

5  Doth  the  wild  ass  bray  when  he  hath  grass?  or 
loweth*the  ox  over  his  fodder? 

6  Can  that  which  is  unsavoury  be  eaten  without  salt? 
or  is  there  any  taste  in  the  white  of  an  egg? 

7  The  things  that  my  soul  refused  to  touch  on  as  my 
sorrowful  meat. 

8  Oh  that  I  might  have  my  request;  and  that  God 
would  grant  me  the  thing  that  I  long  for! 

9  Even  that  it  would  please  God  to  destroy  me;  that 
he  would  let  loose  his  hand,  and  cut  me  off ! 

10  Then  should  I  yet  have  comfort;  yea,  I  would 
harden  myself  in  sorrow:  let  him  not  spare;  for  I  have 
not  concealed  the  words  of  the  Holy  One. 

11  What  is  my  strength,  that  I  should  hope?  and  what 
is  mine  end,  that  I  should  prolong  my  life! 


22  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

12  7s  my  strength  the  strength  of  stones?  or  is  my 
flesh  of  brass? 

13  Is  not  my  help  in  me?  and  is  wisdom  driven  quite 
from  me? 

14  To  him  that  is  afflicted  pity  should  be  shewed  from 
his  friend;  but  he  forsaketh  the  fear  of  the  Almighty. 

15  My  brethren   have   dealt   deceitfully   as   a   brook, 
and  as  the  stream  of  brooks  they  pass  away; 

16  Which  are    blackish    by    reason    of    the    ice,  and 
wherein  the  snow  is  hid : 

17  What  time  they  wax  warm,  they  vanish :  when  it  is 
hot,  they  are  consumed  out  of  their  place. 

18  The  paths  of  their  way  are  turned  aside;  they  go 
to  nothing,  and  perish. 

19  The  troops  of  Tema  looked,  the  companies  of  Sheba 
waited  for  them. 

20  They  were  confounded  because   they  had  hoped; 
they  came  thither,  and  were  ashamed. 

21  For  now  ye  are  nothing;  ye  see  my  casting  down, 
and  are  afraid. 

22  Did  I  say,  Bring  unto  me?  or,  Give  a  reward  for 
me  of  your  substance? 

23  Or,  Deliver  me  from  the  enemy's  hand?  or,  Re- 
deem me  from  the  hand  of  the  mighty? 

24  Teach  me,  and  I  will  hold  my  tongue:  and  cause 
me  to  understand  wherein  I  have  erred. 

25  How  forcible  are  right  words!  but  what  doth  your 
arguing  reprove? 

26  Do  ye  imagine  to  reprove  words,  and  the  speeches 
of  one  that  is  desperate,  which  are  as  wind? 

27  Yea,  ye-overwhelm  the  fatherless,  and  ye  dig  a  pit 
for  your  friend. 

28  Now  therefore  be  content,  look  upon  me;  for  it  is 
evident  unto  you  if  I  lie. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  23 

29  Return,  I  pray  you,  let  it  not  be  iniquity ;  yea,  re- 
turn again,  my  righteousness  is  in  it: 

30  Is  there  iniquity  in  my  tongue?  cannot  my  taste 
discern  perverse  things? 

CHAPTER  7. 

IS  there  not  an  appointed  time  to  man  upon  earth?  are  not 
his  days  also  like  the  days  of  an  hireling?      , 

2  As  a  servant  earnestly  desireth  the  shadow,  and  as 
an  hireling  looketh  for  the  reward  of  his  work : 

3  So  am  I  made  to  possess  months  of  vanity,  and 
wearisome  nights  are  appointed  to  me. 

4  When  I  lie  down,  I  say,  When  shall  I  arise,  and  the 
night  be  gone?  and  I  am  full  of  tossings  to  and  fro  unto 
the  dawning  of  the  day. 

5  My  flesh  is  clothed  with  worms  and  clods  of  dust; 
my  skin  is  broken,  and  become  loathsome. 

6  My  days  are  swifter  than  a  weaver's  shuttle,  and 
are  spent  without  hope. 

7  0  remember  that  my  life  is  wind :  mine  eye  shall  no 
more  see  good. 

8  The  eye  of  him  that  hath  seen  me  shall  see  me  no 
more :  thine  eyes  are  upon  me,  and  I  am  not. 

9  As  the  cloud  is  consumed  and  vanisheth  away:  so 
he  that  goeth  down  to  the  grave  shall  come  up  no  more. 

10  He  shall  return  no  more  to  his  house,  neither  shall 
his  place  know  him  any  more. 

11  Therefore  I  will  not  refrain  my  mouth:  !  will 
speak  in  the  anguish  of  my  spirit;  I  will  complain  in  the 
bitterness  of  my  soul. 

12  Am  1  a  sea,  or  a  whale,  that  thou  settesl  ;i  watch 
over  me? 

13  When  I  say,  My  bed  shall  comfort  me,  my  couch 
shall  ease  my  complaint ; 


24  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

14  Then  thou  scarest  me  with  dreams,  and  terrifiest 
me  through  visions : 

15  So  that  my  soul  ehooseth  strangling,  and  death 
rather  than  my  life. 

16  I  loathe  it;  I  would  not  live  alway:  let  me  alone; 
for  my  days  are  vanity. 

17  What  is  man,  that  thou  shouldest  magnify  him? 
and  that  thou  shouldest  set  thine  heart  upon  him? 

18  And  that  thou  shouldest  visit  him  every  morning, 
and  try  him  every  moment? 

19  How  long  wilt  thou  not  depart  from  me,  nor  let 
me  alone  till  I  swallow  down  my  spittle? 

20  I  have  sinned;  what  shall  I  do  unto  thee,  0  thou 
preserver  of  men  ?  why  hast  thou  set  me  as  a  mark  against 
thee,  so  that  I  am  a  burden  to  myself? 

21  And  why  dost  thou  not  pardon  my  transgression, 
and  take  away  mine  iniquity?  for  now  shall  I  sleep  in  the 
dust;  and  thou  shalt  seek  me  in  the  morning,  but  I  shall 
not  be. 

CHAPTER  8. 

THEN  answered  Bildad  the  Shuhite,  and  said, 
2     How  long  wilt  thou  speak  these  things?  and  how 
long  shall  the  words  of  thy  mouth  be  like  a  strong  wind? 

3  Doth  God  prevert  judgment?  or  doth  the  Almighty 
pervert  justice? 

4  If  thy  children  have  sinned  against  him,  and  he  have 
cast  them  away  for  their  transgression; 

5  If  thou  wouldest  seek  unto  God  betimes,  and  make 
thy  supplication  to  -the  Almighty ; 

6  If  thou  wert  pure  and  upright;  surely  now  he 
would  awake  fos~  thee,  and  make  the  habitation  of  thy 
righteousness  prosperous. 

7  Though  thy  beginning  was  small,  yet  thy  latter  end 
should  greatly  increase. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  25 

8  For  enquire,  I  pray  thee,  of  the  former  age,  and 
prepare  thyself  to  the  search  of  their  fathers : 

9  (For  we  are  but  of  yesterday,  and  know  nothing, 
because  our  days  upon  earth  an  a  shadow:) 

10  Shall  not  they  teach  thee,  and  tell  thee,  and  utter 
words  out  of  their  heart? 

11  Can  the  rush  grow  up  without  mire?  can  the  flag 
grow  without  water? 

12  Whilst  it  is  yet  in  his  greenness,  and  not  cut  down, 
it  withereth  before  any  other  herb. 

13  So  are  the  paths  of  all  that  forget  God;  and  the 
hypocrite's  hope  shall  perish: 

14  Whose  hope  shall  be  cut  off,  and  whose  trust  shall 
be  a  spider's  web. 

15  He  shall  lean  upon  his  house,  but  .it  shall  not  stand : 
he  shall  hold  it  fast,  but'it  shall  not  endure. 

16  He  is  green  before  the  sun,  and  his  branch  shooteth 
forth  in  his  garden. 

17  His  roots  are  wrapped  about  the  heap,  and  seeth 
the  place  of  stones. 

18  .If  he  destroy  him  from  his  place,   then  it   shall 
deny  him,  saying,  I  have  not  seen  thee. 

19  Behold,  this  is  the  joy  of  his  way,  and  out  of  the 
earth  shall  others  grow. 

20  Behold.   God  will  not  cast   away  a  perfect   man, 
neither  will  he  help  the  evil  doers : 

21  Till  he  fill  thy  mouth  with  laughing,  and  thy  lips 
with  rejoicing. 

22  They  that  hate  thee  shall  be  clothed  with  shame: 
and  the  dwelling  place  of  the  wicked  shall  come  to  nought. 

CHAPTER  9. 

THEN  Job  answered  and  said, 
I  know  it  is  so  of  a  truth:  but  Imw  should  man  be  .just 
with  God? 


26  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

3  If  he  will  contend  with  him,  he  cannot  answer  him 
one  of  a  thousand. 

4  He  is  wise  in  heart,  and  mighty  in  strength:  who 
hath  hardened  himself  against  him,  and  hath  prospered  ? 

5  Which  removeth  the  mountains,  and  they  know  not : 
which  overturneth  them  in  his  anger. 

6  Which  shaketh  the  earth  out  of  her  place,  and  the 
pillars  thereof  tremble. 

7  Which  commandeth  the  sun,  and  it  riseth  not;  and 
sealeth  up  the  stars. 

8  Which  alone  spreadeth  out  the  heavens,  and  tread- 
eth  upon  the  waves  of  the  sea. 

9  Which  maketh  Arcturus,  Orion,  and  Pleiades,  and 
the  chambers  of  the  south. 

10  Which  doeth  great  things  past  finding  out;  yea, 
and  wonders  without  number. 

11  Lo,  he  goeth  by  me,  and  I  see  him  not :  he  passeth 
on  also,  but  I  perceive  him  not. 

12  Behold,  he  taketh  away,  who  can  hinder  him?  who 
will  say  unto  him,  What  doest  thou? 

13  If  God  will  not  withdraw  his  anger,   the   proud 
helpers  do  stoop  under  him. 

14  How  much  less  shall  I  answer  him,  and  choose  out 
my  words  to  reason  with  him? 

15  Whom,  though  I  were  righteous,  yet  would  I  not 
answer,  hut  I  would  make  supplication  to  my  judge. 

16  If  I  had  called,  and  he  had  answered  me ;  yet  would 
I  not  believe  that  he  had  hearkened  unto  my  voice. 

17  For  he  breaketh  ma  with  a  tempest,  and  multiplieth 
my  wounds  without  cause. 

18  He  willjiot  suffer  me  to  take  my  breath,  but  nlleth 
me  with  bitterness. 

19  If  J  speak  of  strength,  lo,  he  is  strong :    and  if  of 
judgment,  who  shall  set  me  a  time  to  plead? 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  27 

20  If  I  justify  myself,  mine  own  mouth  shall  con- 
demn me:  if  I  say,  I  am  perfect,  it  sliall  also  also  prove  me 
perverse. 

21  Though  1  were  perfect,  yet  would  I  not  know  my 
soul:  I  would  despise  my  life. 

22  This  is  one  thing,  therefore  T  said  it.  He  destroyeth 
the  perfect  and  the  wicked. 

23  If  the  scourge  slay  suddenly,  he  will  laugh  at  the 
trial  of  the  innocent. 

24  The  earth  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the  wicked : 
he  covereth  the  faces  of  the  judges  thereof;  if  not,  where, 
and  who  is  he? 

25  Now  my  days  are  swifter  than  a  post:  they  flee 
away,  they  see  no  good. 

26  They  are  passed  away  as  the  swift  ships:  as  the 
eagle  that  hasteth  to  the  prey. 

27  If  I  say,  I  will  forget  my  complaint,  I  will  leave 
off  my  heaviness,  and  comfort  myself  -. 

28  I  am  afraid  of  all  my  sorrows,  I  know  that  thou 
wilt  not  hold  me  innocent. 

29  If  I  be  wicked,  why  then  labour  I  in  vain? 

30  If  I  wash  myself  with  snow  water,  and  make  my 
hands  never  so  clean; 

31  Yet  shalt  thou  plunge  me  in  the  ditch,  and  mine 
own  clothes,  shall  abhor  me. 

32  For  he  is  not  a  man,  as  I  am,  that  I  should  answer 
him,  and  we  should  come  together  in  judgment. 

33  Neither  is  there  any  days  man  betwixt  us,  that 
might  lay  his  hand  upon  us  both. 

34  Let  him  take  his  rod  away  from  me,  and  let  not 
his  fear  terrify  me : 

35  Then  would  I  speak,  and  not  fear  him;  but  it  is 
not  so  with  me. 


28  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

CHAPTER  10. 
Y  soul  is  weary  of  my  life;  I  will  leave  my  complaint 


M 


upon  myself;  I  will  speak  in  the  bitterness  of  my 
soul. 

2  I  will  say  unto  God,  Do  not  condemn  me;  shew  me 
wherefore  thou  contendest  with  me. 

3  Is  it  good  unto  thee  that  thou  shouldest  oppress,  that 
thou  shouldest  despise  the  work  of  thine  hands,  and  shine 
upon  the  counsel  of  the  wicked? 

4  Hast  thou  eyes  of  flesh?  or  seest  thou  as  man 
seeth  ? 

5  Are  thy  days  as  the  days  of -man?  are  thy  years  as 
man's  days. 

6  That  thou  enquirest  after  mine  iniquity,  and  seareh- 
est  after  my  sin? 

7  Thou  knowest  that  I  am  not  wicked;  and  there  is 
none  that  can  deliver  out  of  thine  hand. 

8  Thine  hands  have  made  me  and  fashioned  me  to- 
gether round  about;  yet  thou  dost  destroy  me. 

9  Remember,  I  beseech  thee,  that  thou  hast  made  me 
as  the  clay;  and  wilt  thou  bring  me  into  dust  again? 

10  Hast  thou  not  poured  me  out  as  milk,  and  curdled 
me  like  cheese? 

11  Thou  hast  clothed  me  with  skin  and  flesh,  and 
hast  fenced  me  with  bones  and  sinews. 

12  Thou  hast  granted  me  life  and  favour,  and  thy 
visitation  hath  preserved  my  spirit. 

13  And  these  things  hast  thou  hid  in  thine  heart :  I 
know  that  this  is-^with  thee. 

14  If  I  sin,  then  thou  markest  me,  and  thou  wilt  not 
acquit  me  from  mine  iniquity. 

15  If  I  be  wicked,  woe  unto  me ;  and  if  I  be  righteous, 
yet  will  I  not  lift  up  my  head.  /  am  full  of  confusion; 
therefore  see  thou  mine  affliction ; 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  29 

16  For  it  increaseth.  Thou  huntest  me  as  a  fierce 
lion:  and  again  thou  shewest  thyself  marvellous  upon  me. 

17  Thou  renewest  thy  witnesses  against  me,  and  in- 
ereasest  thine  indignation  upon  me ;  changes  and  war  are 
against  me. 

18  Wherefore  then  hast  thou  brought  me  forth  out 
of  the  womb?  Oh  that  I  had  given  up  the  ghost,  and  no 
eye  had  seen  me! 

19  I  should  have  been  as  though  I  had  not  been ;  I 
should  have  been  carried  from  the  womb  to  the  grave. 

20  Are  not  my  days  few?  cease  then,  and  let  me  alone, 
that  I  may  take  comfort  a  little, 

21  Before  I  go  whence  I  shall  not  return,  even  to  the 
land  of  darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death; 

22  A  land  of  darkness,  as  darkness  itself ;  and  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  without  any  order,  and  where  the  light 
is  as  darkness. 

CHAPTER  11. 

THEN  answered  Zophar  the  Naamathite,  and  said, 
2     Should  not  the  multitude  of  words  be  answered? 
and  should  a  man  full  of  talk  be  justified? 

3  Should  thy  lies  make  men  hold  their  peace?  and 
when  thou  mockest,  shall  no  man  make  thee  ashamed? 

4  For  thou  hast  said,  My  doctrine  is  pure,  and  I  am 
clean  in  thine  eyes. 

5  But  oh  that  God  would  speak,  and  open  his  lips 
against  thee; 

6  And  that  he  would  shew  thee  the  secrets  of  wisdom. 
that  they  are  double  to  that  which  is!  Know  therefore 
that  God  exacteth  of  thee  less  than  thine  iniquity  deservt  th. 

7  Canst  thou  by  searching  find  out  God?  canst  thou 
find  out  the  Almighty  unto  perfection  ? 

8  It  is  as  high  as  heaven:  what  <-anst  thou  do?  deeper 
than  hell ;  what  canst  thou  know  ? 


30  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

9  The  measure  thereof  is  longer  than  the  earth,  and 
broader  than  the  sea. 

10  If  he  cut  off,  and  shut  up,  or  gather  together,  then 
who  can  hinder  him? 

11  For  he  knoweth  vain  men :  he  seeth  wickedness 
also;  will  he  not  then  consider  it? 

12  For  vain  man  would  be  wise,  though  man  be  born 
like  a  wild  ass's  colt. 

13  If  thou  prepare  thine  heart,  and  stretch  out  thine 
hands  toward  him; 

14  If  iniquity  be  in  thine  hand,  put  it  far  away,  and 
let  not  wickedness  dwell  in  thy  tabernacles. 

15  For  then  shalt  thou  lift  up  thy  face  without  spot; 
yea,  thou  shalt  be  steadfast,  and  shalt  not  fear : 

16  Because  thou  shalt  forget  thy  misery,  and  remem- 
ber it  as  waters  that  pass  away: 

17  And  thine  age  shall  be  clearer  than  the  noonday; 
thou  shalt  shine  forth,  thou  shalt  be  as  the  morning. 

18  And  thou  shalt  be  secure,  because  there  is  hope; 
yea,  thou  shalt  dig  about  thee,  and  thou  shalt  take  thy  rest 
in  safety. 

19  Also  thou  shalt  lie  down,  and  none  shall  make  thee 
afraid;  yea,  many  shall  make  suit  unto  thee. 

20  But  the  eyes  of  the  wicked  shall  fail,  and  they 
shall  not  escape,  and  their  hope  shall  be  as  the  giving  up 
of  the  ghost. 

CHAPTER  12. 

AND  Job  answered  and  said, 
2    No  doubt  but  ye  are  the  people,  and  wisdom  shall 
die  with  you. 

3  But  I  have  understanding  as  well  as  you;  I  am  not 
inferior  to  you :  yea,  who  knoweth  not  such  things  as  these  ? 

4  I  am  as  one  mocked  of  his  neighbour,  who  calleth 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  31 

upon  God  and  he  answereth  him :  the  just  upright  man  is 
laughed  to  scorn. 

5  He  that  is  ready  to  slip  with  his  feet  is  as  a  lamp 
despised  in  the  thought  of  him  that  is  at  ease. 

6  The  tabernacles  of  robbers  prosper,  and  they  that 
provoke  God  are  secure;  into  whose  hand  God  bringeth 
abundantly. 

7  But  ask  now  the  beasts,  and  they  shall  teach  tlitM-: 
and  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  they  shall  tell  thee : 

8  Or  speak  to  the  earth,  and  it  shall  teach  thee:  and 
the  fishes  of  the  sea  shall  declare  unto  thee. 

9  Who  knoweth  not  in  all  these  that  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  hath  wrought  this? 

10  In  whose  hand  is  the  soul  of  every  living  thing, 
and  the  breath  of  all  mankind. 

11  Doth  not  the  ear  try  words?  and  the  mouth  taste 
his  meat  ? 

12  With  the  ancient  is  wisdom;  and  in  length  of  days 
understanding. 

13  With  him  is  wisdom  and  strength,  he  hath  counsel 
and  understanding. 

14  Behold,  he  breaketh  down,  and  it  cannot  be  built 
again :  he  shutteth  up  a  man,  and  there  can  be  no  opening. 

15  Behold,  he  withholdeth  the  waters,  and  they  dry 
up :  also  he  sendeth  them  out,  and  they  overturn  the  earth. 

16  With  him  is  strength  and  wisdom :  the  deceived  and 
the  deceiver  are  his. 

17  He  leadeth  counsellors  away  spoiled,  and  maketb 
the  judges  fools. 

18  He  looseth  the  bond  of  kings,  and  girdeth  their 
loins  with  a  girdle. 

19  He  leadeth  princes  away  spoiled,  and  overthroweth 
the  mighty. 


32  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

20  He  removeth  away  the  speech  of  the  trusty,  and 
taketh  away  the  understanding  of  the  aged. 

21  He  poureth  contempt  upon  princes,  and  weakeneth 
the  strength  of  the  mighty. 

22  He  discovereth  deep  things  out  of  darkness,  and 
bringeth  out  to  light  the  shadow  of  death. 

23  He  increaseth  the  nations,  and  destroyeth  them : 
he  enlargeth  the  nations,  and  straiteneth  them  again. 

24  He  taketh  away  the  heart  of  the  chief  of  the  people 
of  the  earth,  and  causeth  them  to  wander  in  a  wilderness 
where  there  is  no  way. 

25  They  grope  in  the  dark  without  light,  and  he  mak- 
eth  them  to  stagger  like  a  drunken  man. 

CHAPTER  13. 

LO,  mine  eye  hath  seen  all  this,  mine  ear  hath  heard  and 
understood  it. 

2  What  ye  know,  the  same  do  I  know  also :  I  am  not 
inferior  unto  you. 

3  Surely  I  would  speak  to  the  Almighty,  and  I  desire 
to  reason  with  God. 

4  But  ye  are  forgers  of  lies,  ye  are  all  physicians  of  no 
value. 

5  0  that  ye  would  altogether  hold  your  peace !  and  it 
should  be  your  wisdom. 

6  Hear  now  my  reasoning,  and  hearken  to  the  plead- 
ings of  my  lips. 

7  Will  ye  speak  wickedly  for  God?  and  talk  deceit- 
fully for  him  ? 

8  Will  ye  accept  his  person  ?  will  ye  contend  for  God  ? 

9  Is  it  good  that  he  should  search  you  out?  or  as  one 
man  mocketh  another,  do  ye  so  mock  him  ? 

10  He  will  surely  reprove  you,  if  ye  do  secretly  accept 
persons. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  33 

11  Shall  not  his  excellency  make  you  afraid?  and  his 
dread  fall  upon  you? 

12  Your  remembrances  are  like  unto  ashes,  your  bodies 
to  bodies  of  clay. 

13  Hold  your  peace,  let  me  alone,  that  I  may  speak, 
and  let  come  on  me  what  will. 

14  Wherefore  do  I  take  my  flesh  in  my  teeth,  and  put 
my  life  in  mine  hand  ? 

15  Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him :  but  I 
will  maintain  mine  own  ways  before  him. 

16  He  also  shall  be  my  salvation:   for  an  hypocrite 
shall  not  come  before  him. 

17  Hear  diligently  my  speech,  and  my  declaration  with 
your  ears. 

18  Behold  now,  I  "have  ordered  my  cause;  I  know  that 
1  shall  be  justified. 

19  "Who  is  he  that  will  plead  with  me?  for  now,  if  I 
hold  my  tongue,  I  shall  give  up  the  ghost. 

20  Only  do  not  two  things  unto  me :  then  will  I  not 
hide  myself  from  thee. 

21  Withdraw  thine  hand  far  from  me :  and  let  not  thy 
dread  make  me  afraid. 

22  Then  call  thou,  and  I  will  answer:  or  let  me  speak, 
and  answer  thou  me. 

23  How  many  are  mine  iniquities  and  sins?  make  me 
to  know  my  transgression  and  my  sin. 

24  Wherefore  hidest  thou  thy  face,  and  boldest  me  for 
thine  enemy? 

25  Wilt  thou  break  a  leaf  driven  to  and  fro?  and  wilt 
thou  pursue  the  dry  stubble? 

26  For   thou   writest   bitter   things   against    me,    and 
makest  me  to  possess  the  iniquities  of  my  youth. 

27  Thou  puttest  my  feet  also  in  the  stocks,  and  Lookesl 


34  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

narrowly  unto  all  my  paths;  thou  settest  a  print  upon  the 
heels  of  my  feet. 

28  And  he,  as  a  rotten  thing,  consumeth,  as  a  garment 
that  is  moth  eaten. 

CHAPTER  14. 

MAN  that  is  born  of  a  woman  is  of  few  days,  and  full  of 
trouble. 

2  He  cometh  forth  like  a  flower,  and  is  cut  down:  he 
fleeth  also  as  a  shadow,  and  continueth  not. 

3  And  dost  thou  open  thine  eyes  upon  such  an  one,  and 
bringest  me  into  judgment  with  thee  ? 

4  Who  can  bring  a  clean  thing  out  of  an  unclean?  not 
one. 

5  Seeing  his  days  are  determined,  the  number  of  his 
months  are  with  thee,  thou  hast  appointed  his  bounds  that 
he  cannot  pass; 

6  Turn  from  him,  that  he  may  rest,  till  he  shall  ac- 
complish, as  an  hireling,  his  day. 

7  For  there  is  hope  of  a  tree,  if  it  be  cut  down,  that  it 
will  sprout  again,  and  that  the  tender  branch  thereof  will 
not  cease. 

8  Though  the  root  thereof  wax  old  in  the  earth,  and 
the  stock  thereof  die  in  the  ground ; 

9  Yet  through  the  scent  of  water  it  will  bud,  and  bring 
forth  boughs  like  a  plant. 

10  But  man  dieth,  and  wasteth  away :  yea,  man  giveth 
up  the  ghost,  and  where  is  he  ? 

11  As  the  waters  fail  from  the  sea,  and  the  flood  de- 
cayeth  and  drieth  up : 

12  So  man  ITeth  down,  and  riseth  not :  till  the  heavens 
be  no  more,  they  shall  not  awake,  nor  be  raised  out  of  their 
sleep. 

13  0  that  thou  wouldest  hide  me  in  the  grave,  that 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  35 

thou  wonldest  keep  me  secret,  until  thy  wrath  be  past,  that 
thou  wouldest  appoint  me  a  set  time,  and  remember  me !' 

14  If  a  man  die,  shall  he  live  again  ?  all  the  days  of  my 
appointed  time  will  I  wait,  till  my  change  come. 

15  Thou  shalt  call,  and  I  will  answer  thee:  thou  wilt 
have  a  desire  to  the  work  of  thine  hands. 

16  For  now  thou  numberest  my  steps:  dost  thou  not 
watch  over  my  sin? 

17  My  transgression  is  sealed  up  in  a  bag,  and  thou 
sewest  up  mine  iniquity. 

18  And  surely  the  mountain  falling  cometh  to  nought, 
and  the  rock  is  removed  out  of  his  place. 

19  The  waters  wear  the  stones :  thou  washest  away  the 
things  which  grow  out  of  the  dust  of  the  earth;  and  thoN 
destroyest  the  hope  of  man. 

20  Thou  prevailest  for  ever  against  him,  and  he  pass- 
eth :  thou  changest  his  countenance,  and  sendest  him  away. 

21  His  sons  come  to  honour,  and  he  knoweth  it  not; 
and  they  are  brought  low,  but  he  perceiveth  it  not  of  them. 

22  But  his  flesh  upon  him  shall  have  pain,  and  his  soul 
within  him  shall  mourn. 

CHAPTER  15. 

THEN  answered  Eliphaz  the  Temanite,  and  said, 
2     Should  a  wise  man  utter  vain  knowledge,  and  fill 
his  belly  with  the  east  wind? 

3  Should  he  reason  with  unprofitable  talk?  or  with 
speeches  wherewith  he  can  do  no  good  ? 

4  Yea,  thou  castest  off  fear,  and  restrainest  prayer  be- 
fore God. 

5  For  thy  mouth  uttereth  thine  iniquity,  and  thou 
choosest  the  tongue  of  the  crafty. 

6  Thine  own  mouth  eondemneth  thee,  and  not  I:  yea, 
thine  own  lips  testify  against  thee. 


36  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

7  Art  thou  the  first  man  that  was  born?  or  wast  thou 
made  before  the  hills? 

8  Hast  thou  heard  the  secret  of  God?  and  dost  thou 
restrain  wisdom  to  thyself? 

9  What  knowest  thou,  that  we  know  not?  what  under- 
standest  thou,  which  is  not  in  us? 

10  With  us  are  both  the  grayheaded  and  very  aged 
men,  much  elder  than  thy  father. 

11  Are  the  consolations  of  God  small  with  thee?  is 
there  any  secret  thing  with  thee? 

12  Why  doth  thine  heart  carry  thee  away?  and  what 
do  thy  eyes  wink  at, 

13  That  thou  turnest  thy  spirit  against  God,  and  let- 
test  such  words  go  out  of  thy  mouth? 

14  What  is  man,  that  he  should  be  clean  ?  and  he  which 
is  born  of  a  woman,  that  he  should  be  righteous  ? 

15  Behold,  he  putteth  no  trust  in  his  saints;  yea,  the 
heavens  are  not  clean  in  his  sight. 

16  How  much   more   abominable   and   filthy  is   man, 
which  drinketh  iniquity  like  water  ? 

17  I  will  shew  thee,  hear  me;  and  that  which  I  have 
seen  I  will  declare ; 

18  Which  wise  men  have  told  from  their  fathers,  and 
have  not  hid  it  ■. 

19  Unto  whom  alone  the  earth  was  given,  and  no  stran- 
ger passed  among  them. 

20  The  wicked  man  travaileth  with  pain  all  his  days, 
and  the  number  of  years  is  hidden  to  the  oppressor. 

21  A  dreadful  sound  is  in  his  ears :  in  prosperity  the 
destroyer  shall  come  upon  him. 

22  He  believeth  not  that  he  shall  return  out  of  dark- 
ness, and  he  is  waited  for  the  sword. 

23  He  wandereth  abroad  for  bread,  saying, Where  is  it? 
he  knoweth  that  the  day  of  darkness  is  ready  at  his  hand. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  37 

24  Trouble  and  anguish  shall  make  him  afraid;  they 
shall  prevail  against  him,  as  a  king  ready  to  the  battle.  ■ 

25  For  he  stretcheth  out  his  hand  against  God,  and 
strengtheneth  himself  against  the  Almighty. 

26  He  runneth  upon  him,  even  on  his  neck,  upon  the 
thick  bosses  of  his  bucklers : 

27  Because  he  covereth  his  face  with  his  fatness,  and 
maketh  collops  of  fat  on  his  flanks. 

28  And  he  dwelleth  in  desolate  cities,  and  in  houses 
which  no  man  inhabiteth,  which  are  ready  to  become  heaps. 

29  He  shall  not  be  rich,  neither  shall  his  substance 
continue,  neither  shall  he  prolong  the  perfection  thereof 
upon  the  earth. 

30  He  shall  not  depart  out  of  darkness;  the  flame  shall 
dry  up  his  branches,  and  by  the  breath  of  his  mouth  shall 
he  go  away. 

31  Let  not  him  that  is  deceived  trust  in  vanity :  for 
vanity  shall  be  his  recompence. 

32  It  shall  be  accomplished  before  his  time,  and  his 
branch  shall  not  be  green. 

33*  He  shall  shake  off  his  unripe  grape  as  the  vine,  and 
shall  cast  off  his  flower  as  the  olive. 

34  For  the  congregation  of  hypocrites  shall  be  desolate, 
and  fire  shall  consume  the  tabernacles  of  bribery. 

35  They  conceive  mischief,  and  bring  forth  vanity,  and 
their  belly  prepareth  deceit. 

CHAPTER  16. 

THEN  Job  answered  and  said, 
2     I  have  heard  many  such  things:  miserable  comfort- 
ers are  ye  all. 

3  Shall  vain  words  have  an  end?  or  what  emboldeneth 
thee  that  thou  answerest? 

4  I  also  could  speak  as  ye  do :  if  your  soul  were  in  my 


38  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

soul's  stead,  I  could  heap  up  words  against  you,  and  shake 
mine  head  at  you. 

5  But  I  would  strengthen  you  with  my  mouth,  and  the 
moving  of  my  lips  should  asswage  your  grief. 

6  Though  I  speak,  my  grief  is  not  asswaged:  and 
though  I  forbear,  what  am  I  eased? 

7  But  now  he  hath  made  me  weary:  thou  hast  made 
desolate  all  my  company. 

8  And  thou  hast  filled  me  with  wrinkles,  which  is  a 
witness  against  me :  and  my  leanness  rising  up  in  me  bear- 
eth  witness  to  my  face. 

9  He  teareth  me  in  his  wrath,  who  hateth  me :  he  gnash- 
eth  upon  me  with  his  teeth ;  mine  enemy  sharpeneth  his  eyes 
upon  me. 

10  They  have  gaped  upon  me  with  their  mouth;  they 
have  smitten  me  upon  the  cheek  reproachfully;  they  have 
gathered  themselves  together  against  me. 

11  God  hath  delivered  me  to  the  ungodly,  and  turned 
me  over  into  the  hands  of  the  wicked. 

12  I  was  at  ease,  but  he  hath  broken  me  asunder:  he 
hath  also  taken  me  by  my  neck,  and  shaken  me  to  pieces, 
and  set  me  up  for  his  mark. 

13  His  archers  compass  me  round  about,  he  cleaveth 
my  reins  asunder,  and  doth  not  spare;  he  poureth  out  my 
gall  upon  the  ground. 

14  He  breaketh  me  with  breach  upon  breach,  he  run- 
neth upon  me  like  a  giant. 

15  I  have  sewsd  sackcloth  upon  my  skin,  and  defiled 
jny  horn  in  the  dust. 

16  My  face  is  foul  with  weeping,  and  on  my  eyelids  is 
the  shadow  of  death ; 

17  Not  for  any  injustice  in  mine  hands :  also  my  prayer 
is  pure. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  39 

18  0  earth,  cover  not  thou  my  blood,  and  let  my  cry 
have  no  place. 

19  Also  now,  behold,  my  witness  is  in  heaven,  and  my 
record  is  on  high. 

20  My  friends  scorn  me:  but  mine  eye  poureth  out 
tears  unto  God. 

21  O  that  one  might  plead  for  a  man  with  God,  as  a 
man  plcadeth  for  his  neighbour ! 

22  When  a  few  years  are  come,  then  I  shall  go  the  way 
whence  I  shall  not  return. 

CHAPTER  17. 

MY  breath  is  corrupt,  my  days  are  extinct,  the  graves 
are  ready  for  me. 

2  Are  there  not  mockers  with  me?  and  doth  not  mine 
eye  continue  in  their  provocation  ? 

3  Lay  down  now,  put  me  in  a  surety  with  thee ;  who  is 
he  that  will  strike  hands  with  me  ? 

4  For  thou  hast  hid  their  heart  from  understanding: 
therefore  shalt  thou  not  exalt  them. 

5  '  He  that  speaketh  flattery  to  his  friends,  even  the 
eyes  of  his  children  shall  fail. 

6  He  hath  made  me  also  a  byword  of  the  people ;  and 
aforetime  I  was  as  a  tabret. 

7  Mine  eye  also  is  dim  by  reason  of  sorrow,  and  all  my 
members  are  as  a  shadow. 

8  Upright  men  shall  be  astonied  at  this,  and  the  inno- 
cent shall  stir  up  himself  against  the  hypocrite. 

9  The  righteous  also  shall  hold  on  his  way,  and  he  that 
hath  clean  hands  shall  be  stronger  and  stronger. 

10  But  as  for  you  all  do  ye  return  and  come  now :  for 
I  cannot  find  one  wise  man  among  you. 

11  My  days  are  past,  my  purposes  are  broken  off,  even 
the  thoughts  of  my  heart. 


40  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

12  They  change  the  night  into  day:  the  light  is  short 
because  of  darkness. 

13  If  I  wait,  the  grave  is  mine  house :  I  have  made  my 
bed  in  the  darkness. 

14  I  have  said  to  corruption,  Thou  art  my  father:  to 
the  worm,  Thou  art  my  mother,  and  my  sister. 

15  And  where  is  now  my  hope?  as  for  my  hope,  who 
shall  see  it? 

16  They  shall  go  down  to  the  bars  of  the  pit,  when  our 
rest  together  is  in  the  dust. 

CHAPTER  18. 
'"pHEN  answered  Bidad  the  Shuhite,  and  said, 

*■    2     How  long  will  it  be  ere  ye  make  an  end  of  words? 
mark,  and  afterwards  we  will  speak. 

3  Wherefore  are  we  counted  as  beasts,  and  reputed 
vile  in  your  sight  ? 

4  He  teareth  himself  in  his  anger:  shall  the  earth  be 
forsaken  for  thee  ?  and  shall  the  rock  be  removed  out  of  his 
place  ? 

5  Yea,  the  light  of  the  wicked  shall  be  put  out,  and  the 
spark  of  his  fire  shall  not  shine. 

6  The  light  shall  be  dark  in  his  tabernacle,  and  his 
candle  shall  be  put  out  with  him. 

7  The  steps  of  his  strength  shall  be  straitened,  and  his 
own  counsel  shall  cast  him  down. 

8  For  he  is  cast  into  a  net  by  his  own  feet,  and  he 
walketh  upon  a  snare. 

9  The  gin  shall  take  him  by  the  heel,  and  the  robber 
shall  prevail  against  him. 

10  The  snare-w  laid  for  him  in  the  ground,  and  a  trap 
for  him  in  the  way. 

11  Terrors  shall  make  him  afraid  on  every  side,  and 
shall  drive  him  to  his  feet. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  41 

12  His  strength  shall  be  hungerbitten,  and  destruction 
shall  be  ready  at  his  side. 

13  It  shall  devour  the  strength  of  his  skin:  even  the 
firstborn  of  death  shall  devour  his  strength. 

14  His  confidence  shall  be  rooted  out  of  his  tabernacle, 
and  it  shall  bring  him  to  the  king  of  terrors. 

15  It  shall  dwell  in  his  tabernacle,  because  it  is  none 
of  his :  brimstone  shall  be  scattered  upon  his  habitation. 

16  His  roots  shall  be  dried  up  beneath,  and  -above  shall 
his  branch  be  cut  off. 

17  His  remembrance  shall  perish  from  the  earth,  and 
he  shall  have  no  name  in  the  street. 

18  He  shall  be  driven  from  light  into  darkness,  and 
chased  out  of  the  world. 

19  He  shall  neither  have  son  nor  nephew  among  his 
people,  nor  any  remaining  in  his  dwellings. 

20  They  that  come  after  him  shall  be  astonied  at  his 
day,  as  they  that  went  before  were  affrighted. 

21  Surely  such  are  the  dwellings  of  the  wicked,  and 
this  is  the  place  of  him  that  knoweth  not  God. 

CHAPTER  19. 

THEN  Job  answered  and  said, 
2     How  long  will  ye  vex  my  soul,  and  break  me  in 
pieces  with  words? 

3  These  ten  times  have  ye  reproached  me:  ye  are  not 
ashamed  that  ye  make  yourselves  strange  to  me. 

4  And  be  it  indeed  that  I  have  erred,  mine  error  re- 
maineth  with  myself. 

5  If  indeed  ye  will  magnify  yourselves  against  me, 
and  plead  against  me  my  reproach: 

6  Know  now  that  God  hath  overthrown  me.  and  hath 
compassed  me  with  his  net. 


42  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

7  Behold,  I  cry  out  of  wrong,  but  I  am  not  heard:  I 
cry  aloud,  but  there  is  no  judgment. 

8  He  hath  fenced  up  my  way  that  I  cannot  pass,  and 
he  hath  set  darkness  in  my  paths. 

9  He  hath  stripped  me  of  my  glory,  and  taken  the 
crown  from  my  head. 

10  He  hath  destroyed  me  on  every  side,  and  I  am  gone : 
and  mine  hope  hath  he  removed  like  a  tree. 

11  He  hath  also  kindled  his  wrath  against  me,  and  he 
counteth  me  unto  him  as  one  of  his  enemies. 

12  His  troops  come  together,  and  raise  up  their  way 
against  me,  and  encamp  round  about  my  tabernacle. 

13  He  hath  put  my  brethren  far  from  me,  and  mine 
acquaintance  are  verily  estranged  from  me. 

14  My  kinsfolk  have  failed,  and  my  familiar  friends 
have  forgotten  me. 

15  They  that  dwell  in  mine  house,   and  my  maids, 
count  me  for  a  stranger :  I  am  an  alien  in  their  sight. 

16  I  called  my  servant,  and  he  gave  me  no  answer;  I 
intreated  him  with  my  mouth. 

.    17     My  breath  is  strange  to  my  wife,  though  I  intreated 
for  the  children's  sake  of  mine  own  body. 

18  Yea,  young  children  despised  me ;  I  arose,  and  they 
spake  against  me. 

19  All  my  inward  friends  abhorred  me :  and  they  whom 
I  loved  are  turned  against  me. 

20  My  bone  cleaveth  to  my  skin  and  to  my  flesh,  and 
I  am  escaped  with  the  skin  of  my  teeth. 

21  Have  pity  upon  me,  have  pity  upon  me,  0  ye  my 
friends ;  for  the  hand  of  God  hath  touched  me. 

22  Why  do  ye  persecute  me  as  God,  and  are  not  satis- 
fied with  my  flesh? 

23  Oh  that  my  words  were  now  written!  oh  that  they 
were  printed  in  a  book ! 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  43 

24  That  they  wore  graven  with  an  iron  pen  and  lead 
in  the  rock  for  ever ! 

25  For  I  know  that  my  redeemer  liveth,  and  that  he 
shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth : 

26  And  though  after  my  skin  worms  destroy  this  body, 
yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God : 

27  Whom  I  shall  see  for  myself,  and  mine  eyes  shall 
behold,  and  not  another;  though  my  reins  be  consumed 
within  me. 

28  But  ye  should  say,  Why  persecute  we  him,  seeing 
the  root  of  the  matter  is  found  in  me  ? 

29  Be  ye  afraid  of  the  sword:  for  wrath  bringeth  the 
punishments  of  the  sword,  that  ye  may  know  there  is  a 
judgment. 

CHAPTER  20. 

THEN  answered  Zophar  the  Naamathite,  and  said, 
2     Therefore  do  my  thoughts  cause  me  to  answer,  and 
for  this  I  make  haste. 

3  I  have  heard  the  check  of  my  reproach,  and  the 
spirit  of  my  understanding  causeth  me  to  answer. 

4  Knowest  thou  not  this  of  old,  since  man  was  placed 
upon  earth, 

5  That  the  triumphing  of  the  wicked  is  short,  and  the 
joy  of  the  hypocrite  but  for  a  moment? 

6  Though  his  excellency  mount  up  to  the  heavens,  and 
his  head  reach  unto  the  clouds ; 

7  Yet  he  shall  perish  for  ever  like  his  own  dung:  they 
which  have  seen  him  shall  say,  Where  is  he? 

8  He  shall  fly  away  as  a  dream,  and  shall  not  be  found : 
yea,  he  shall  be  chased  away  as  a  vision  of  the  night. 

9  The  eye  also  which  saw  him  shall  see  him  no  more; 
neither  shall  his  place  any  more  behold  him, 

10  His  children  shall  seek  to  please  the  poor,  and  his 
hands  shall  restore  their  goods. 


44  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

11  His  bones  are  full  of  the  sin  of  his  youth,  which 
shall  lie  down  with  him  in  the  dust. 

12  Though  wickedness  be  sweet  in  his  mouth,  though 
he  hide  it  under  his  tongue ; 

13  Though  he  spare  it,  and  forsake  it  not ;  but  keep  it 
still  within  his  mouth : 

14  Yet  his  meat  in  his  bowels  is  turned,  it  is  the  gall  of 
asps  within  him. 

15  He  hath  swallowed  down  riches,  and  he  shall  vomit 
them  up  again :  God  shall  cast  them  out  of  his  belly. 

16  He  shall  suck  the  poison  of  asps:  the  viper's  tongue 
shall  slay  him. 

17  He  shall  not  see  the  rivers,  the  floods,  the  brooks 
of  honey  and  butter. 

18  That  which  he  laboured  for  shall  he  restore,  and 
shall  not  swallow  it  down :  according  to  his  substance  shall 
the  restitution  be,  and  he  shall  not  rejoice  therein. 

19  Because  he  hath  oppressed  and  hath  forsaken  the 
poor;  because  he  hath  violently  taken  away  an  house  which 
he  builded  not ; 

20  Surely  he  shall  not  feel  quietness  in  his  belly,  he 
shall  not  save  of  that  which  he  desired. 

21  There  shall  none  of  his  meat  be  left ;  therefore  shall 
no  man  look  for  his  goods. 

22  In  the  fulness  of  his  sufficiency  he  shall  be  in  straits : 
every  hand  of  the  wicked  shall  come  upon  him. 

23  When  he  is  about  to  fill  his  belly,  God  shall  cast  the 
fury  of  his  wrath  upon  him,  and  shall  rain  it  upon  him 
while  he  is  eating. 

24  He  shall  flee  from  the  iron  weapon,  and  the  bow  of 
steel  shall  strike  him  through. 

25  It  is  drawn,  and  cometh  out  of  the  body;  yea,  the 
glittering  sword  cometh  out  of  his  gall :  terrors  are  upon 
him. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  45 

26  All  darkness  shall  l><  hid  in  his  secret  places:  a  fir.' 
not  blown  shall  consume  him ;  it  shall  go  ill  with  him  that 
is  left  in  his  tabernacle. 

27  The  heaven  shall  reveal  his  iniquity ;  and  the  earth 
shall  rise  up  against  him. 

28  The  increase  of  his  house  shall  depart,  and  his  goods 
shall  flow  away  in  the  day  of  his  wrath. 

29  This  is  the  portion  of  a  wicked  man  from  God,  and 
the  heritage  appointed  unto  him  by  God. 

CHAPTER  21. 

BUT  Job  answered  and  said, 
2     Hear  diligently  my  speech,  and  let  this  be  your  con- 
solations. 

3  Suffer  me  that  I  may  speak;  and  after  that  I  have 
spoken,  mock  on. 

4  As  for  me,  is  my  complaint  to  man  ?  and  if  it  were  so, 
why  should  not  my  spirit  be  troubled? 

5  Mark  me,  and  be  astonished,  and  lay  your  hand  upon 
your  mouth. 

6  %Even  when  I  remember!  am  afraid,  and  trembling 
taketh  hold  on  my  flesh. 

7  Wherefore  do  the  wicked  live,  become  old,  yea,  are 
mighty  in  power? 

8  Their  seed  is  established  in  their  sight  with  them, 
and  their  offspring  before  their  eyes. 

9  Their  houses  are  safe  from  fear,  neither  is  the  rod 
of  God  upon  them. 

10  Their  bull  gendereth,  and  faileth  not:  their  cow 
calveth,  and  casteth  not  her  calf. 

11  They  send  forth  their  little  ones  like  a  Hock,  and 
their  children  dance. 

12  They  take  the  timbrel  and  harp,  and  rejoice  at  the 
sound  of  the  organ. 


46  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

13  They  spend  their  days  in  wealth,  and  in  a  moment 
go  down  to  the  grave. 

14  Therefore  they  say  unto  God,  Depart  from  us ;  for 
we  desire  not  the  knowledge  of  thy  ways. 

15  What  is  the  Almighty,  that  we  should  serve  him? 
and  what  profit  should  we  have,  if  we  pray  unto  him? 

16  Lo,  their  good  is  not  in  their  hand:  the  counsel  of 
the  wicked  is  far  from  me. 

17  How  oft  is  the  candle  of  the  wicked  put  out!  and 
how  oft  cometh  their  destruction  upon  them!  God  distrib- 
uted sorrows  in  his  anger. 

18  They  are  as  stubble  before  the  wind,  and  as  chaff 
that  the  storm  carrieth  away. 

19  God  layeth  up  his  iniquity  for  his  children:  he  re- 
wardeth  him,  and  he  shall  know  it. 

20  His  eyes  shall  see  his  destruction,  and  he  shall  drink 
of  the  wrath  of  the  Almighty. 

21  For  what  pleasure  hath  he  in  his  house  after  him, 
when  the  number  of  his  months  is  cut  off  in  the  midst? 

22  Shall  any  teach  God  knowledge  ?  seeing  he  judgeth 
those  that  are  high. 

23  One  dieth  in  his  full  strength,  being  wholly  at  ease 
and  quiet. 

24  His  breasts  are  full  of  milk,  and  his  bones  are 
moistened  with  marrow. 

25  And  another  dieth  in  the  bitterness  of  his  soul, 
and  never  eateth  with  pleasure. 

26  They  shall  lie  down  alike  in  the  dust,  and  the  worms 
shall  cover  them. 

27  Behold,  I  know  your  thoughts,  and  the  devices 
which  ye  wrongfully  imagine  against  me. 

28  For  ye  say,  Where  is  the  house  of  the  prince?  and 
where  are  the  dwelling  places  of  the  wicked? 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  47 

29  Have  ye  not  asked  them  that  go  by  the  way?  and 
do  ye  not  know  their  tokens, 

30  That  the  wicked  is  reserved  to  the  day  of  destruc- 
tion? they  shall  be  brought  forth  to  the  day  of  wrath. 

31  Who  shall  declare  his  way  to  his  face?  and  who 
shall  repay  him  what  he  hath  done? 

32  Yet  shall  he  be  brought  to  the  grave,  and  shall  re- 
main in  the  tomb. 

33  The  clods  of  the  valley  shall  be  sweet  unto  him,  and 
every  man  shall  draw  after  him,  as  there  are  innumerable 
before  him. 

34  How  then  comfort  ye  me  in  vain,  seeing  in  an- 
swers there  remaineth  falsehood? 


CHAPTER  22. 

THEN  Eliphaz  the  Temanite  answered  and  said, 
2     Can  a  man  be  profitable  unto  God,  as  he  that  is 
wise  may  be  profitable  unto  himself? 

3  Is  it  any  pleasure  to  the  Almighty,  that  thou  art 
righteous?  or  is  it  gain  to  him,  that  thou  makest  thy  ways 
perfect  ? 

4  Will  he  reprove  thee  for  fear  of  thee?  will  he  enter 
with  thee  into  judgment? 

5  Is  not  thy  wickedness  great?  and  thine  iniquities 
infinite? 

6  For  thou  hast  taken  a  pledge  from  thy  brother  for 
nought,  and  stripped  the  naked  of  their  clothing. 

7  Thou  hast  not  given  water  to  the  weary  to  drink, 
and  thou  hast  withholden  bread  from  the  hungry. 

8  But  as  for  the  mighty  man,  he  hath  the  earth;  ami 
the  honourable  man  dwelt  in  it. 

9  Thou  hast  sent  widows  away  empty,  and  the  arms 
of  the  fatherless  have  been  broken. 


48  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

10  Therefore  snares  are  round  about  thee,  and  sudden 
fear  troubleth  thee; 

11  Or  darkness,  that  thou  canst  not  see;  and  abun- 
dance of  waters  cover  thee. 

12  7s  not  God  in  the  height  of  heaven  ?  and  behold  the 
height  of  the  stars,  how  high  they  are ! 

13  And  thou  sayest,  How  doth  God  know  ?  can  he  judge 
through  the  dark  cloud? 

14  Thick  clouds  are  a  covering  to  him,  that  he  seeth 
not ;  and  he  walketh  in  the  circuit  of  heaven. 

15  Hast  thou  marked  the  old  way  which  wicked  men 
have  trodden? 

16  Which  were  cut  down  out  of  time,  whose  founda- 
tion was  overflown  with  a  flood: 

17  Which  said  unto  God,  Depart  from  us:  and  what 
can  the  Almighty  do  for  them? 

18  Yet  he  filled  their  houses  with  good  things :  but  the 
counsel  of  the  wicked  is  far  from  me. 

19  The  righteous  see  it,  and  are  glad :  and  the  innocent 
laugh  them  to  scorn. 

20  Whereas  our  substance  is  not  cut  down,  but  the 
remnant  of  them  the  fire  consumeth. 

21  Acquaint  now  thyself  with  him,  and  be  at  peace : 
thereby  good  shall  come  unto  thee. 

22  Receive,  I  pray  thee,  the  law  from  his  mouth,  and 
lay  up  his  words  in  thine  heart. 

23  If  thou  return  to  the  Almighty,  thou  shalt  be  built 
up,  thou  shalt  put  away  iniquity  far  from  thy  tabernacles. 

24  Then  shalt  thou  lay  up  gold  as  dust,  and  the  gold 
oi  Ophir  as  the  stones  of  the  brooks. 

25  Yea,  the  Almighty  shall  be  thy  defence,  and  thou 
shalt  have  plenty  of  silver. 

26  For  then  shalt  thou  have  thy  delight  in  the  Al- 
mighty, and  shalt  lift  up  thy  face  unto  God. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  49 

27  Thou  shalt  make  thy  prayer  unto  him,  and  he  shall 
hear  thee,  and  thou  shalt  pay  thy  vows. 

28  Thou  shalt  also  decree  a  thing,  and  it  shall  be  es- 
tablished unto  thee:  and  the  light  shall  shine  upon  thy 
ways. 

29  When  men  are  cast  down,  then  thou  shalt  say, 
There  is  lifting  up;  and  he  shall  save  the  humble  person. 

30  He  shall  deliver  the  island  of  the  innocent :  and  it 
is  delivered  by  the  pureness  of  thine  hands. 

CHAPTER  23. 

THEN  Job  answered  and  said, 
2     Even  to  day  is  my  complaint  bitter:  my  stroke 
is  heavier  than  my  groaning. 

3  Oh  that  I  knew  where  I  might  find  him !  that  I 
might  come  even  to  his  seat ! 

4  I  would  order  my  cause  before  him,  and  fill  my 
mouth  with  arguments. 

5  I  would  know  the  words  which  he  would  answer  me, 
and  understand  what  he  would  say  unto  me. 

6  « Will  he  plead  against  me  with  his  great  power  ?  No ; 
but  he  would  put  strength  in  me. 

7  There  the  righteous  might  dispute  with  him;  so 
should  I  be  delivered  for  ever  from  my  judge. 

8  Behold,  I  go  forward,  but  he  is  not  there;  and  back- 
ward, but  I  cannot  perceive  him: 

9  On  the  left  hand,  where  he  doth  work,  but  I  can- 
not behold  him:  he  hideth  himself  on  the  right  hand,,  that 
I  cannot  see  him  ■. 

10  But  he  knoweth  the  way  that  I  take:  when  he  hath 
tried  me,  I  shall  come  forth  as  gold. 

11  My  foot  hath  held  his  steps,  his  way  have  I  kept, 
and  not  declined. 

12  Neither  have  I  gone  back  from  the  commandment 


50  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

of  his  lips;  I  have  esteemed  the  words  of  his  mouth  more 
than  my  necessary  food. 

13  But  he  is  in  one  mind,  and  who  can  turn  him?  and 
what  his  soul  desireth,  even  that  he  doeth. 

14  For  he  performeth  the  thing  that  is  appointed  for 
me :  and  many  such  things  are  with  him. 

15  Therefore  am  I  troubled  at  his  presence:  when  I 
consider,  I  am  afraid  of  him. 

16  For  God  maketh  my  heart  soft,  and  the  Almighty 
troubleth  me: 

17  Because   I  was  not  cut  off  before  the   darkness, 
neither  hath  he  covered  the  darkness  from  my  face. 


CHAPTER  24. 

WHY,  seeing  times  are  not  hidden  from  the  Almighty, 
do  they  that  know  him  not  see  his  days? 

2  Some  remove  the  landmarks;  they  violently  take 
away  flocks,  and  feed  thereof. 

3  They  drive  away  the  ass  of  the  fatherless,  they  take 
the  widow 's  ox  for  a  pledge. 

4  They  turn  the  needy  out  of  the  way:  the  poor  of 
the  earth  hide  themselves  together. 

5  Behold,  as  wild  asses  in  the  desert,  go  they  forth  to 
their  work ;  rising  betimes  for  a  prey :  the  wilderness  yield- 
eth  food  for  them  and  for  their  children. 

6  They  reap  every  one  his  corn  in  the  field:  and  they 
gather  the  vintage  of  the  wicked. 

7  They  cause  .the  naked  to  lodge  without  clothing, 
that  they  have  no  covering  in  the  cold. 

8  They  are  jvet  with  the  showers  of  the  mountains, 
and  embrace  the  rock  for  want  of  a  shelter. 

9  They  pluck  the  fatherless  from  the  breast,  and 
take  a  pledge  of  the  poor. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  51 

10  They  cause  him  to  go  naked  without  clothing,  and 
they  take  away  the  sheaf  from  the  hungry; 

11  Which  make  oil  within  their  walls,  and  tread  their 

wine-presses,  and  suffer  thirst. 

12  Men  groan  from  out  of  the  city,  and  the  soul  of 
the  wounded  erieth  out:  yet  God  layeth  not  folly  to  them. 

13  They  are  of  those  that  rebel  against  the  light ;  they 
know  not  the  ways  thereof,  nor  abide  in  the  paths  thereof. 

14  The  murderer  rising  with  the  light  killeth  the  poor 
and  needy,  and  in  the  night  is  as  a  thief. 

15  The  eye  also  of  the  adulterer  waiteth  for  the  twi- 
light, saying,  No  eye  shall  see  me:  and  disguiseth  his  face. 

16  In  the  dark  they  dig  through  houses,  which  they  had 
marked  for  themselves  in  the  daytime :  they  know  not  the 
light. 

17  For  the  morning  is  to  them  even  as  the  shadow  of 
death:  if  one  know  them,  they  art  in  the  terrors  of  the 
shadow  of  death. 

18  He  is  swift  as  the  waters;  their  portion  is  cursed 
in  the  earth :  he  beholdeth  not  the  way  of  the  vineyards. 

19  Drought  and  heat  consume  the  snow  waters:  so 
doth  the  grave  those  which  have  sinned. 

20  The  womb  shall  forget  him;  the  worms  shall  feed 
sweetly  on  him ;  he  shall  be  no  more  remembered ;  and  wick- 
edness shall  be  broken  as  a  tree. 

21  He  evil  entreateth  the  barren  that  beareth  not:  and 
doeth  not  good  to  the  widow. 

22  He  draweth  also  the  mighty  witli  his  power:  he 
riseth  up,  and  no  man  is  sure  of  life. 

23  Though  it  be  given  him  to  be  in  safety,  whereon  he 
resteth ;  yet  his  eyes  are  upon  their  ways. 

24  They  are  exalted  for  a  little  while,  but  are  gone 
and  brought  low;  they  are  taken  out  of  the  way  as  all  other, 
and  cut  off  as  the  tops  of  the  ears  of  corn. 


52  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

25     And  if  it  be  not  so  now,  who  will  make  me  a  liar, 
and  make  my  speech  nothing  worth? 

CHAPTER  25. 
'-pHEN  answered  Bildad  the  Shuhite,  and  said, 

A      2     Dominion  and  fear  are  with  him,  he  maketh  peace 
in  his  high  places. 

3  Is  there  any  number  of  his  armies  ?  and  upon  whom 
doth  not  his  light  arise? 

4  How  then  can  man  be  justified  with  God?  or  how 
can  he  be  clean  that  is  born  of  a  woman? 

5  Behold  even  to  the  moon,  and  it  shineth  not ;  yea,  the 
stars  are  not  pure  in  his  sight. 

6  How  much  less  man,  that  is  a  worm  ?  and  the  son  of 
man,  which  is  a  worm  ? 

CHAPTER  26. 
OUT  Job  answered  and  said, 

U  2     How  hast  thou  helped  him  that  is  without  power? 
how  savest  thou  the  arm  that  hath  no  strength? 

3  How  hast  thou  counselled  him  that  hath  no  wisdom? 
and  how  hast  thou  plentifully  declared  the  thing  as  it  is  ? 

4  To  whom  hast  thou  uttered  words?  and  whose  spirit 
came  from  thee? 

5  Dead  things  are  formed  from  under  the  waters,  and 
the  inhabitants  thereof. 

6  Hell  is  naked  before  him,  and  destruction  hath  no 
covering. 

7  He  stretcheth  out  the  north  over  the  empty  place,  and 
hangeth  the  earth  upon  nothing. 

8  He  bindeth  up  the  waters  in  his  thick  clouds ;  and  the 
cloud  is  not  rent  under  them. 

9  He  holdeth  back  the  face  of  his  throne,  and  spreadeth 
his  cloud  upon  it. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  53 

10  He  hath  compassed  the  waters  with  bounds,  until 
the  day  and  night  come  to  an  end. 

11  The  pillars  of  heaven  tremble  and  are  astonished 
at  his  reproof. 

12  He  divideth  the  sea  with  his  power,  and  by  his  un- 
derstanding he  smiteth  through  the  proud. 

13  By  his  spirit  he  hath  garnished  the  heavens ;  his 
hand  hath  formed  the  crooked  serpent. 

14  Lo,  these  are  parts  of  his  ways :  but  how  little  a  por- 
tion is  heard  of  him  ?  but  the  thunder  of  his  power  who  can 
understand  ? 

CHAPTER  27. 

MOREOVER  Job  continued  his  parable,  and  said, 
2    As  God  liveth,  who  hath  taken  away  my  judg- 
ment ;  and  the  Almighty,  who  hath  vexed  my  soul ; 

3  All  the  while  my  breath  is  in  me,  and  the  spirit  of 
God  is  in  my  nostrils; 

4  My  lips  shall  not  speak  wickedness,  nor  my  tongue 
utter  deceit. 

5  -God  forbid  that  I  should  justify  you :  till  I  die  I  will 
not  remove  mine  integrity  from  me. 

6  My  righteousness  I  hold  fast,  and  will  not  let  it  go : 
my  heart  shall  not  reproach  me  so  long  as  I  live. 

7  Let  mine  enemy  be  as  the  wicked,  and  he  that  riseth 
up  against  me  as  the  unrighteous. 

8  For  what  is  the  hope  of  the  hypocrite,  though  he 
hath  gained  when  God  taketh  away  his  soul? 

9  Will  God  hear  his  cry  when  trouble  cometh  upon 
him? 

10  Will  he  delight  himself  in  the  Almighty)  will  he 
always  call  upon  God? 

11  I  will  teach  you  by  the  hand  of  God:  that  which  is 
with  the  Almighty  will  I  not  conceal. 


5+  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

12  Behold,  all  ye  yourselves  have  seen  it;  why  then 
are  ye  thus  altogether  vain  ? 

13  This  is  the  portion  of  a  wicked  man  with  God,  and 
the  heritage  of  oppressors,  which  they  shall  receive  of  the 
Almighty. 

14  If  his  children  be  multiplied,  it  is  for  the  sword: 
and  his  offspring  shall  not  be  satisfied  with  bread. 

15  Those  that  remain  of  him  shall  be  buried  in  death : 
and  his  widows  shall  not  weep. 

16  Though  he  heap  up  silver  as  the  dust,  and  prepare 
raiment  as  the  clay; 

17  He  may  prepare  it,  but  the  just  shall  put  it  on,  and 
the  innocent  shall  divide  the  silver. 

18  He  buildeth  his  house  as  a  moth,  and  as  a  booth  that 
the  keeper  maketh. 

19  The  rich  man  shall  lie  down,  but  he  shall  not  be 
gathered :  he  openeth  his  eyes,  and  he  is  not. 

20  Terrors  take  hold  on  him  as  waters,  a  tempest  steal- 
eth  him  away  in  the  night. 

21  The  east  wind  carrieth  him  away,  and  he  departeth : 
and  as  a  storm  hurleth  him  out  of  his  place. 

22  For  God  shall  cast  upon  him,  and  not  spare:  he 
would  fain  flee  out  of  his  hand. 

23  Men  shall  clap  their  hands  at  him,  and  shall  hiss 
him  out  of  his  place. 

CHAPTER  28. 

SURELY  there  is  a  vein  for  the  silver,  and  a  place  for 
gold  where  they  fine  it. 

2  Iron  is  taken  out  of  the  earth,  and  brass  is  molten 
out  of  the  stone.  - 

3  He  setteth  an  end  to  darkness,  and  searcheth  out  all 
perfection :  the  stones  of  darkness,  and  the  shadow  of  death. 

4  The  flood  breaketh  out  from  the  inhabitant;  even  the 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  55 

waters  forgotten  of  the  foot :  they  are  dried  up,  they  are 
gone  away  from  men. 

5  As  for  the  earth,  out  of  it  cometh  bread:  and  under 
it  is  turned  up  as  it  were  fire. 

6  The  stones  of  it  are  the  place  of  sapphires:  and  it 
hath  dust  of  gold. 

7  There  is  a  path  which  no  fowl  knoweth,  and  which 
the  vulture 's  eye  hath  not  seen : 

8  The  lion's  whelps  have  not  trodden  it,  nor  the  fierce 
lion  passed  by  it. 

9  He  putteth  forth  his  hand  upon  the  rock;  he  over- 
turned the  mountains  by  the  roots. 

10  He  cutteth  out  rivers  among  the  rocks;  and  his 
eye  seeth  every  precious  thing. 

11  He  bindeth  the  floods  from  overflowing;  and  the 
thing  that  is  hid  bringeth  he  forth  to  light. 

12  But  where  shall  wisdom  be  found?  and  where  is 
the  place  of  understanding? 

13  Man  knoweth  not  the  price  thereof;  neither  is  it 
found  in  the  land  of  the  living. 

14  The  depth  saith,  It  is  not  in  me:  and  the  sea  saith, 
It  is  not  with  me. 

15  It  cannot  be  gotten  for  gold,  neither  shall  silver 
be  weighed  for  the  price  thereof. 

16  It  cannot  be  valued  with  the  gold  of  Ophir,  with 
the  precious  onyx,  or  the  sapphire. 

17  The  gold  and  the  crystal  cannot  equal  it:  and  the 
exchange  of  it  shall  not  be  for  jewels  of  fine  gold. 

18  No  mention  shall  be  made  of  coral,  or  of  pearls: 
for  the  price  of  wisdom  is  above  rubies. 

19  The  topaz  of  Ethiopia  shall  not  equal  it,  neither 
shall  it  be  valued  with  pure  gold. 

20  "Whence  then  cometh   wisdom?   and   where  is   the 
place  of  understanding? 


56  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

21  Seeing  it  is  hid  from  the  eyes  of  all  living,  and 
kept  close  from  the  fowls  of  the  air. 

22  Destruction  and  death  say,  We  have  heard  the 
fame  thereof  with  our  ears. 

23  God  understandeth  the  way  thereof,  and  he  know- 
eth  the  place  thereof. 

24  For  he  looketh  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  seeth 
under  the  whole  heaven ; 

25  To  make  the  weight  for  the  winds;  and  he  weigh- 
eth  the  waters  by  measure. 

26  When  he  made  a  decree  for  the  rain,  and  a  way 
for  the  lightning  of  the  thunder : 

27  Then  did  he  see  it,  and  declare  it;  he  prepared  it, 
yea,  and  searched  it  out. 

28  And  unto  man  he  said,  Behold,  the  fear  of  the 
Lord,  that  is  wisdom;  and  to  depart  from  evil  is  under- 
standing. 

CHAPTER  29. 

MOREOVER  Job  continued  his  parable,  and  said, 
2     Oh  that  I  were  as  in  months  past,  as  in  the  days 
when  God  preserved  me; 

3  When  his  candle  shined  upon  my  head,  and  when 
by  his  light  I  walked  through  darkness; 

4  As  I  was  in  the  days  of  my  youth,  when  the  secret 
of  God  was  upon  my  tabernacle; 

5  When  the  Almighty  was  yet  with  me,  when  my 
children  were  about  me; 

6  When  I  washed  my  steps  with  butter,  and  the  rock 
poured  me  out  rivers  of  oil ; 

7  When  I  went  out  to  the  gate  through  the  city,  when 
I  prepared  my  seat  in  the  street ! 

8  The  young  men  saw  me,  and  hid  themselves:  and 
the  aged  arose,  and  stood  up. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  57 

9'  The  princes  refrained  talking,  and  laid  their  hand, 
on  their  mouth. 

10  The    nobles    held    their   peace,    and    their    tongue 
cleaved  to  the  roof  of  their  mouth. 

11  When  the  ear  heard  me,  then  it  blessed  mej  and 
when  the  eye  saw  me,  it  gave  witness  to  me : 

12  Because  I  delivered  the  poor  that  cried,  and  the 
fatherless,  and  him  that  had  none  to  help  him. 

13  The  blessing  of  him  that  was  ready  to  perish  came 
upon  me:  and  I  caused  the  widow's  heart  to  sing  for  joy. 

14  I   put  on   righteousness,   and  it   clothed   me:    my 
judgment  ivas  as  a  robe  and  a  diadem. 

15  I  was  eyes  to  the  blind,  and  feet  was  I  to  the  lame. 

16  I  ivas  a  father  to  the  poor:  and  the  cause  which  I 
knew  not  I  searched  out. 

17  And  I  brake  "the  jaws  of  the  wicked,  and  plucked 
the  spoil  out  of  his  teeth. 

18  Then  I  said,  I  shall  die  in  my  nest,  and  I  shall 
multiply  my  days  as  the  sand. 

19  My  root  was  spread  out  by  the  waters,  and  the  dew 
lay  all  night  upon  m}'  branch. 

20  My  glory   was  fresh   in  me,  and  my  bow   was   re- 
newed in  my  hand. 

21  Unto  me  men  gave  ear,  and  waited,  and  kept  sil- 
ence at  my  counsel. 

22  After  my  words  they  .spake  not  again;   and  my 
speech  dropped  upon  them. 

23  And  they  waited  for  me  as  for  the  rain ;  and  they 
opened  their  mouth  wide  as  for  the  latter  rain. 

24  //  I  laughed  on  them,  they  believed  it  not;  and 
the  light  of  my  countenance  they  cast  not  down. 

25  I  chose  out  their  way,  and  sat  chief,  and  dwelt  as 
a  king  in  the  army,  as  one  that  comforteth  the  mourn*  i< 


58  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

CHAPTER  30. 
T^UT  now  they  that  are  younger  than  I  have  me  in  de- 
O  rision,  whose  fathers  I  would  have  disdained  to  have 
set  with  the  dogs  of  my  flock. 

2  Yea,  whereto  might  the  strength  of  their  hands 
profit  me,  in  whom  old  age  was  perished? 

3  For  want  and  famine  they  were  solitary;  fleeing 
into  the  wilderness  in  former  time  desolate  and  waste. 

4  Who  cut  up  mallows  by  the  bushes,  and  juniper 
roots  for  their  meat. 

5  They  were  driven  forth  from  among  men,  (they 
cried  after  them  as  after  a  thief;) 

6  To  dwell  in  the  cliffs  of  the  valleys,  in  caves  of  the 
earth,  and  in  the  rocks. 

7  Among  the  bushes  they  brayed;  under  the  nettles 
they  were  gathered  together. 

8  They  were  children  of  fools,  yea,  children  of  base 
men :  they  were  viler  than  the  earth. 

9  And  now  am  I  their  song,  yea,  I  am  their  byword. 

10  They  abhor  me,  they  flee  far  from  me,  and  spare 
not  to  spit  in  my  face. 

11  Because  he  hath  loosed  my  cord,  and  afflicted  me, 
they  have  also  let  loose  the  bridle  before  me. 

12  Upon  my  right  hand  rise  the  youth;  they  push 
away  my  feet,  and  they  raise  up  against  me  the  ways  of 
their  destruction. 

13  They  mar  my  path,  they  set  forward  my  calamity, 
they  have  no  helper. 

14  They  came  upon  me  as  a  wide  breaking  in  of 
waters:  in  the  desolation  they  rolled  themselves  upon  me. 

15  Terrors  are  turned  upon  me :  they  pursue  my  soul 
as  the  wind :  and-my  welfare  passeth  away  as  a  cloud. 

16  And  now  my  soul  is  poured  out  upon  me ;  the  days 
of  affliction  have  taken  hold  upon  me. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  59 

17'  My  bones  arc  pierced  in  me  in  the  night  season: 
and  my  sinews  take  no  rest. 

18  By  the  great  force  of  my  diseas<    is  my  garment 

changed:  it  bindeth  me  about  as  the  collar  of  my  coat. 

19  He  hath  cast  me  into  the  mire,  and  I  am  become 
like  dust  and  ashes. 

20  I  cry  unto  thee,  and  thou  dost  not  hear  me :  I  stand 
up,  and  thou  regardest  me  not. 

21  Thou  art  become  cruel  to  me :  with  thy. strong  hand 
thou  opposest  thyself  against  me. 

22  Thou  liftest  me  up  to  the  wind;  thou  causest  me 
to  ride  upon  it,  and  dissolvest  my  substance. 

23  For  I  know  that  thou  wilt  bring  me  to  death,  and 
to  the  house  appointed  for  all  living. 

24  Howbeit  he  will  not  stretch  out  his  hand  to  the 
grave,  though  they  cry  in  his  destruction. 

25  Did  not  I  weep  for  him  that  was  in  trouble?  was 
not  my  soul  grieved  for  the  poor? 

26  When  I  looked  for  good,  then  evil  came  unto  me : 
and  when  I  waited  for  light,  there  came  darkness. 

27  My  bowels  boiled,  and  rested  not :  the  days  of  af- 
fliction prevented  me. 

28  I  went  mourning  without  the  sun:  I  stood  up,  and 
I  cried  in  the  congregation. 

29  I  am  a  brother  to  dragons,  and  a  companion  to 
owls. 

30  My  skin  is  black  upon  me,  and  my  bones  are  burned 
with  heat. 

31  My  harp  also  is  turned  to  mourning,  and  my  organ 
into  the  voice  of  them  that  weep. 

CHAPTER  31. 

I  MADE  a  covenant  with  mine  eyes;   why  then  should  I 
think  upon  a  maid? 


60  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

2  For  what  portion  of  God  is  there  from  above?  and 
what  inheritance  of  the  Almighty  from  on  high? 

3  Is  not  destruction  to  the  wicked?  and  a  strange 
punishment  to  the  workers  of  iniquity? 

4  Doth  not  he  see  my  ways,  and  count  all  my  steps? 

5  If  I  have  walked  with  vanity,  or  if  my  foot  hath 
hasted  to  deceit; 

6  Let  me  be  weighed  in  an  even  balance,  that  God 
may  know  mine  integrity. 

7  If  my  step  hath  turned  out  of  the  way,  and  mine 
heart  walked  after  mine  eyes,  and  if  any  blot  hath  cleaved 
to  mine  hands ; 

8  Then  let  me  sow,  and  let  another  eat;  yea,  let  my 
offspring  be  rooted  out. 

9  If  mine  heart  have  been  deceived  by  a  woman,  or  if 
I  have  laid  wait  at  my  neighbor 's  door ; 

10  Then  let  my  wife  grind  unto  another,  and  let 
others  bow  down  upon  her. 

11  For  this  is  heinous  crime;  yea,  it  is  an  iniquity  to 
be  punished  by  the  judges. 

.    12     For  it  is  a  fire  that  consumeth  to  destruction,  and 
would  root  out  all  mine  increase. 

13  If  I  did  despise  the  cause  of  my  manservant  or 
of  my  maidservant,  when  they  contended  with  me; 

14  What  then  shall  I  do  when  God  riseth  up?  and 
when  he  visiteth,  what  shall  I  answer  him? 

15  Did  not  he  that  made  me  in  the  womb  make  him? 
and  did  not  one  fashion  us  in  the  womb? 

16  If  I  have  withheld  the  poor  from  their  desire,  or 
have  caused  the  eyes  of  the  widow  to  fail ; 

17  Or  have^eaten  my  morsel  myself  alone,  and  the 
fatherless  hath  not  eaten  thereof; 

18  (From   my   youth   he   was   brought   up    with    me. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  61 

as  witK a  father,  and  I  have  guided  her  from  my  mother's 
womb:) 

19  If  I  have  seen  any  perish  for  want  of  clothing,  or 
any  poor  without  covering ; 

20  If  his  loins  have  not  blessed  me.  and  if  he  were  not 
warmed  with  the  fleece  of  my  sheep ; 

21  If  I  have  lifted  up  my  hand  against  the  fatherless, 
when  I  saw  my  help  in  the  gate: 

22  Then,  let  mine  arm  fall  from  my  shoulder  blade, 
and  mine  arm  be  broken  from  the  bone. 

23  For  destruction  from  God  was  a  terror  to  me,  and 
by  reason  of  his  highness  I  could  not  endure. 

24  If  I  have  made  gold  my  hope,  or  have  said  to  the 
fine  gold,  Thou  art  my  confidence; 

25  If  I  rejoiced  because  my  wealth  was  great,  and  be- 
cause mine  hand  had  gotten  much; 

26  If  I  beheld  the  sun  when  it  shined,  or  the  moon 
walking  in  brightness; 

27  And  my  heart  hath  been  secretly  enticed,  or  my 
mouth  hath  kissed  my  hand : 

28  This  also  were  an  iniquity  f<>  ("   />u»ish<<l  by  the 
judge;  for  I  should  have  denied  the  God  that  is  above. 

29  If  I  rejoiced  at  the  destruction  of  him  that  hated 
me,  or  lifted  up  myself  when  evil  found  him : 

30  Neither  have  I  suffered  my  mouth  to  sin  by  wish- 
ing a  curse  to  his  soul. 

31  If  the  men  of  my  tabernacle  said  not,  Oh  that  we 
had  of  his  flesh!  we  cannot  be  satisfied. 

32  The  stranger  did  not  lodge  in  the  street:   but   I 
opened  my  doors  to  the  traveller. 

33  If  I  covered  my  transgressions  as  Adam,  by  hid- 
ing mine  iniquity  in  my  bosom : 

34  Did  I  fear  a  great  multitude,  or  did  the  contempt 


62  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

of  families  terrify  me,  that  I  kept  silence,  and  went  not 
out  of  the  door? 

35  Oh  that  one  would  hear  me!  behold,  my  desire  is, 
that  the  Almighty  would  answer  me,  and  that  mine  adver- 
sary had  written  a  book. 

36  Surely  I  would  take  it  upon  my  shoulder,  and  bind 
it  as  a  crown  to  me. 

37  I  would  declare  unto  him  the  number  of  my  steps ; 
as  a  prince  would  I  go  near  unto  him. 

38  If  my  land  cry  against  me,  or  that  the  furrows 
likewise  thereof  complain; 

39  If  I  have  eaten  the  fruits  thereof  without  money, 
or  have  caused  the  owners  thereof  to  lose  their  life : 

40  Let  thistles  grow  instead  of  wheat,  and  cockle  in- 
stead of  barley.    The  words  of  Job  are  ended. 

CHAPTER  32. 

SO  these  three  men  ceased  to  answer  Job,  because  he  was 
righteous  in  his  own  eyes. 

2  Then  was  kindled  the  wrath  of  Elihu  the  son  of  Ba- 
rachel  the  Buzite,  of  the  kindred  of  Ram :  against  Job  was 
his  wrath  kindled,  because  he  justified  himself  rather  than 
God. 

3  Also  against  his  three  friends  was  his  wrath  kindled, 
because  they  had  found  no  answer,  and  yet  had  condemned 
Job. 

4  Now  Elihu  had  waited  till  Job  had  spoken,  because 
they  were  elder  than  he. 

5  When  Elihu*  saw  that  there  was  no  answer  in  the 
mouth  of  these  three  men,  then  his  wrath  was  kindled. 

6  And  Elihir'the  son  of  Barachel  the  Buzite  answered 
and  said,  I  am  young,  and  ye  are  very  old;  wherefore  I 
was  afraid,  and  durst  not  shew  you  mine  opinion. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  63 

7  I  said,  Days  should  speak,  and  multitude  of  years 
should  teach  wisdom. 

8  But  there  is  a  spirit  in  man :  and  the  inspiration  of 
the  Almighty  giveth  them  understanding. 

9  Great  men  are  not  always  wise:  neither  do  the  aged 
understand  judgment. 

10  Therefore  I  said,  Hearken  to  me;  I  also  will  shew 
mine  opinion. 

11  Behold,  I  waited  for  your  words;  I  gave  ear  to 
your  reasons,  whilst  ye  searched  out  what  to  say. 

12  Yea,  I  attended  unto  you,  and,  behold,  there  was 
none  of  you  that  convinced  Job,  or  that  answered  his  words : 

13  Lest  ye  should  say,  We  have  found  out  wisdom : 
God  thrusteth  him  down,  not  man. 

14  Now  he  hath  not  directed  his  words  against  me : 
neither  will  I  answer  him  with  your  speeches. 

15  They  were  amazed,  they  answered  no  more :  they 
left  off  speaking. 

16  When  I  had  waited,  (for  they  spake  not,  but  stood 
still,  and  answered  no  more;) 

17  /  said,  I  will  answer  also  my  part,  I  also  will  shew 
mine  opinion. 

18  For  I  am  full  of  matter,  the  spirit  within  me  con- 
straineth  me. 

19  Behold,  my  belly  is  as  wine  which  hath  no  vent ;  it 
is  ready  to  burst  like  new  bottles. 

20  I  will  speak  that  I  may  be  refreshed:  I  will  open 
my  lips  and  answer. 

21  Let  me  not,  I  pray  you,  accept  any  man's  person, 
neither  let  me  give  flattering  titles  unto  man. 

22  For  I  know  not  to  give  flattering  titles ;  in  so  doing 
my  maker  would  soon  take  me  away. 


64  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

CHAPTER  33. 

WHEREFORE,  Job,  I  pray  thee,  hear  my  speeches,  and 
hearken  to  all  my  words. 

2  Behold,  now  I  have  opened  my  mouth,  my  tongue 
hath  spoken  in  my  mouth. 

3  My  words  shall  be  of  the  uprightness  of  my  heart : 
and  my  lips  shall  utter  knowledge  clearly. 

4  The  Spirit  of  God  hath  made  me,  and  the  breath  of 
the  Almighty  hath  given  me  life. 

5  If  thou  canst  answer  me,  set  thy  words  in  order  be- 
fore me,  stand  up. 

6  Behold,  I  am  according  to  thy  wish  in  God's  stead: 
I  also  am  formed  out  of  the  clay. 

7  Behold,  my  terror  shall  not  make  thee  afraid,  neither 
shall  my  hand  be  heavy  upon  thee. 

8  Surely  thou  hast  spoken  in  mine  hearing,  and  I  have 
heard  the  voice  of  thy  words,  saying, 

9  I  am  clean  without  transgression,  I  am  innocent ; 
neither  is  there  iniquity  in  me. 

10  Behold,  he  findeth  occasions  against  me,  he  counteth 
me  for  his  enemy. 

11  He  putteth  my  feet  in  the  stocks,  he  marketh  all 
my  paths. 

12  Behold,  in  this  thou  art  not  just:  I  will  answer 
thee,  that  God  is  greater  than  man. 

13  Why  dost  thou  strive  against  him?  for  he  giveth 
not  account  of  any  of  his  matters. 

14  For  God  speaketh  once,  yea  twice,  yet  man  per- 
ceiveth  it  not. 

15  In  a  dream,  in  a  vision  of  the  night,  when  deep 
sleep  falleth  upon-men,  in  slumberings  upon  the  bed ; 

16  Then  he  openeth  the  ears  of  men,  and  sealeth  their 
instruction, 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  65 

17  That  he  may  withdraw  man  from  his  purpose,  and 
hide  pride  from  man. 

18  He  keepeth  back  his  soul  from  the  pit,  and  his  life 
from  perishing  by  the  sword. 

19  He  is  chastened  also  with  pain  upon  his  bed,  and 
the  multitude  of  his  bones  with  strong  pain  : 

20  So  that  his  life  abhorreth  bread,  and  his  soul  dainty 
meat. 

21  His  flesh  is  consumed  away,  that  it  cannot  be  seen ; 
and  his  bones  that  were  not  seen  stick  out. 

22  Yea,  his  soul  draweth  near  unto  the  grave,  and  his 
life  to  the  destroyers. 

23  If  there  be  a  messenger  with  him,  an  interpreter, 
one  among  a  thousand,  to  shew  unto  man  his  uprightness : 

24  Then  he  is  gracious  unto  him,  and  saith,  Deliver 
him  from  going  down  to  the  pit :  I  have  found  a  ransom. 

25  His  flesh  shall  be  fresher  than  a  child's:  he  shall  re- 
turn to  the  days  of  his  youth : 

26  He  shall  pray  unto  God,  and  he  will  be  favourable 
unto  him :  and  he  shall  see  his  face  with  joy :  for  he  will  ren- 
der unto  man  his  righteousness. 

27  He  looketh  upon  men,  and  if  any  say,  I  have  sinned, 
and  perverted  that  which  was  right,  and  it  profited  me  not : 

28  He  will  deliver  his  soul  from  going  into  the  pit,  and 
his  life  shall  see  the  light. 

29  Lo,  all  these  things  worketh  God  oftentimes  with 
man, 

30  To  bring  back  his  soul  from  the  pit,  to  be  enlight- 
ened with  the  light  of  the  living. 

31  Mark  well,  0  Job,  hearken  unto  me:  hold  thy  peace, 
and  I  will  speak. 

32  If  thou  hast  anything  to  say,  answer  me :  speak,  for 
I  desire  to  justify  thee. 

33  If  not,  hearken  unto  me:  hold  thy  peace,  and  T  shall 
teach  thee  wisdom. 


66  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

CHAPTER  34. 

FURTHERMORE  Elihu  answered  and  said, 
2     Hear  my  words,  0  ye  wise  men ;  and  give  ear  unto 
me,  ye  that  have  knowledge. 

3  For  the  ear  trieth  words,  as  the  mouth  tasteth  meat. 

4  Let  us  choose  to  us  judgment :  let  us  know  among 
ourselves  what  is  good. 

5  For  Job  hath  said,  I  am  righteous:  and  God  hath 
taken  away  my  judgment. 

6  Should  I  lie  against  my  right?  my  wound  is  incur- 
able without  transgression. 

7  What  man  is  like  Job,  who  drinketh  up  scorning 
like  water? 

8  Which  goeth  in  company  with  the  workers  of  in- 
iquity, and  walketh  with  wicked  men. 

9  For  he  hath  said,  It  profiteth  a  man  nothing  that  he 
should  delight  himself  with  God. 

10  Therefore  hearken  unto  me,  ye  men  of  understand- 
ing :  far  be  it  from  God,  that  he  should  do  wickedness ;  and 
from  the  Almighty,  that  he  should  commit  iniquity. 

11  For  the  work  of  a  man  shall  he  render  unto  him, 
and  cause  every  man  to  find  according  to  his  ways. 

12  Yea,  surely  God  will  not  do  wickedly,  neither  will 
the  Almighty  pervert  judgment. 

13  Who  hath  given  him  a  charge  over  the  earth?  or 
who  hath  disposed  the  whole  world? 

14  If  he  set  his  heart  upon  man,  if  he  gather  unto  him- 
self his  spirit  and  his  breath ; 

15  All  flesh  shall  perish  together,  and  man  shall  turn 
again  unto  dust. 

<     16     If  now  thou  hast  understanding,  hear  this :  hearken 
to  the  voice  of  my  words. 

17  Shall  even  he  that  hateth  right  govern?  and  wilt 
thou  condemn  him  that  is  most  just? 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  67 

18  ~ls  it  fit  to  say  to  a  king,  Thou  art  wicked?  and  to 
princes,  Ye  are  ungodly  ? 

19  How  much  less  to  him  that  accepteth  not  the  per- 
sons of  princes,  nor  regardeth  the  rich  more  than  the  poor  ? 
for  they  all  are  the  work  of  his  hands. 

20  In  a  moment  shall  they  die,  and  the  people  shall 
be  troubled  at  midnight,  and  pass  away:  and  the  mighty 
shall  be  taken  away  without  hand. 

21  For  his  eyes  are  upon  the  ways  of  man,  and  he 
seeth  all  his  goings. 

22  There  is  no  darkness,  nor  shadow  of  death,  where 
the  workers  of  iniquity  may  hide  themselves. 

23  For  he  will  not  lay  upon  man  more  than  right ;  that 
he  should  enter  into  judgment  with  God. 

24  He  shall  break  in  pieces  mighty  men  without  num- 
ber, and  set  others  in  their  stead. 

25  Therefore  he  knoweth  their  works,  and  he  over- 
turneth  them  in  the  night,  so  that  they  are  destroyed. 

26  He  striketh  them  as  wicked  men  in  the  open  sight 
of  others; 

27  Because  they  turned  back  from  him,  and  would  not 
consider  any  of  his  ways : 

28  So  that  they  cause  the  cry  of  the  poor  to  come  unto 
him,  and  he  heareth  the  cry  of  the  afflicted. 

29  When  he  giveth  quietness,  who  then  can  make 
trouble?  and  when  he  hideth  his  face,  who  then  can  behold 
him?  whether  it  be  done  against  a  nation,  or  against  a  man 
only: 

30  That  the  hypocrite  reign  not,  lest  the  people  be  en- 
snared. 

31  Surely  it  is  meet  to  be  said  unto  God,  I  have  borne 
chastisement,  I  will  not  offend  any  more: 

32  That  which  I  see  not  teach  thou  me:  if  I  have  done 
iniquity,  I  will  do  no  more. 


68  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

33  Should  it  be  according  to  thy  mind?  he  will  recom- 
pense it,  whether  thou  refuse,  or  whether  thou  choose ;  and 
not  I :  therefore  speak  what  thou  knowest. 

34  Let  men  of  understanding  tell  me,  and  let  a  wise 
man  hearken  unto  me. 

35  Job  hath  spoken  without  knowledge,  and  his  words 
were  without  wisdom. 

36  My  desire  is  that  Job  may  be  tried  unto  the  end 
because  of  his  answers  for  wicked  men. 

37  For  he  addeth  rebellion  unto  his  sin,  he  clappeth 
his  hands  among  us,  and  multiplieth  his  words  against  God. 

CHAPTER  35. 

ELIHU  spake  moreover,  and  said, 
2     Thinkest  thou  this  to  be  right,  that  thou  saidst,  My 
righteousness  is  more  than  God's? 

3  For  thou  saidst,  What  advantage  will  it  be  unto  thee  ? 
and,  What  profit  shall  I  have,  if  I  be  cleansed  from  my  sin? 

4  I  will  answer  thee,  and  thy  companions  with  thee. 

5  Look  unto  the  heavens,  and  see;  and  behold  the 
clouds  which  are  higher  than  thou. 

6  If  thou  sinnest,  what  doest  thou  against  him?  or  if 
thy  transgressions  be  multiplied,  what  doest  thou  unto  him  ? 

7  If  thou  be  righteous,  what  givest  thou  him  ?  or  what 
receiveth  he  of  thine  hand? 

8  Thy  wickedness  may  hurt  a  man  as  thou  art;  and 
thy  righteousness  may  profit  the  son  of  man. 

9  By  reason  of  the  multitude  of  oppressions  they  make 
the  oppressed  to  cry :  they  cry  out  by  reason  of  the  arm  of 
the  mighty. 

10  But  none  saith,  Where  is  God  my  maker,  who  giveth 
songs  in  the  night  ;_- 

11  Who  teacheth  us  more  than  the  beasts  of  the  earth, 
and  maketh  us  wiser  than  the  fowls  of  heaven? 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  69 

12  *  There  they  cry,  but  none  giveth  answer,  because 
of  the  pride  of  evil  men. 

13  Surely  God  will  not  hear  vanity,  neither  will  the 
Almighty  regard  it. 

14  Although  thou  sayest  thou  shalt  not  see  him.  yet 
judgment  is  before  him;  therefore  trust  thou  in  him. 

15  But  now,  because  it  is  not  so,  he  hath  visited  in  his 
anger ;  yet  he  knoweth  it.  not  in  great  extremity : 

16  Therefore  doth  Job  open  his  mouth  in  vain;  he  mul- 
tiplied words  without  knowledge. 

CHAPTER  36. 

ELIHU  also  proceeded,  and  said, 
2     Suffer  me  a  little,  and  I  will  shew  thee  that  /  have 
yet  to  speak  on  God's  behalf. 

3  I  will  fetch  my  knowledge  from  afar,  and  will  ascribe 
righteousness  to  my  Maker. 

4  For  truly  my  words  shall  not  be  false :  he  that  is  per- 
fect in  knowledge  is  with  thee. 

5  Behold,  God  is  mighty,  and  despiseth  not  any :  he  is 
mighty  in  strength  and  wisdom. 

6  He  preserveth  not  the  life  of  the  wicked :  but  giveth 
right  to  the  poor. 

7  He  withdraweth  not  his  eyes  from  the  righteous: 
but  with  kings  are  they  on  the  throne;  yea,  he  doth  estab- 
lish them  for  ever,  and  they  are  exalted. 

8  And  if  they  be  bound  in  fetters,  and  be  holden  in 
cords  of  affliction ; 

9  Then  he  sheweth  them  their  work,  and  their  trans- 
gressions that  they  have  exceeded. 

10  He  openeth  also  their  ear  to  discipline,  and  com- 
mandeth  that  they  return  from  iniquity. 

11  If  they  obey  and  serve  him,  they  shall  spend  their 
days  in  prosperity,  and  their  years  in  pleasures. 


70  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

12  But  if  they  obey  not,  they  shall  perish  by  the  sword, 
and  they  shall  die  without  knowledge. 

13  But  the  hypocrites  in  heart  heap  up  wrath:  they 
cry  not  when  he  bindeth  them. 

14  They  die  in  youth,  and  their  life  is  among  the  un- 
clean. 

15  He  delivereth  the  poor  in  his  affliction,  and  openeth 
their  ears  in  oppression. 

16  Even  so  would  he  have  removed  thee  out  of  the 
strait  into  a  broad  place,  where  there  is  no  straitness;  and 
that  which  should  be  set  on  thy  table  should  be  full  of  fat- 
ness. 

17  But  thou  hast  fulfilled  the  judgment  of  the  wicked : 
judgment  and  justice  take  hold  on  thee. 

18  Because  there  is  wrath,  beware  lest  he  take  thee 
away  with  his  stroke:  then  a  great  ransom  cannot  deliver 
thee. 

19  Will  he  esteem  thy  riches?  no,  not  gold,  nor  all  the 
forces  of  strength. 

20  Desire  not  the  night,  when  people  are  cut  off  in 
their  place. 

21  Take  heed,  regard  not  iniquity:  for  this  hast  thou 
chosen  rather  than  affliction. 

22  Behold,  God  exalteth  by  his  power:  who  teacheth 
like  him  ? 

23  Who  hath  enjoined  him  his  way?  or  who  can  say, 
Thou  hast  wrought  iniquity  ? 

24  Remember  that  thou  magnify  his  work,  which  men 
behold. 

25  Every  man  may  see  it.;  man  may  behold  it  afar  off. 

,     26     Behold,  God  is  great,  and  we  know  him  not,  neither 
can  the  number  of  his  years  be  searched  out. 

27  For  he  maketh  small  the  drops  of  water:  they  pour 
down  rain  according  to  the  vapour  thereof: 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  71 

28  •  Which  the  clouds  do  drop  and  distil  upon  man 
abundantly. 

29  Also  can  any  understand  the  spreadings  of  ,the 
clouds,  or  the  noise  of  his  tabernacle? 

30  Behold,  he  spreadeth  his  light  upon  it,  and  covereth 
the  bottom  of  the  sea. 

31  For  by  them  judgeth  he  the  people;  he  giveth  meat 
in  abundance. 

32  With  clouds  he  covereth  the  light;  and  command- 
eth  it  not  to  shine  by  the  cloud  that  cometh  betwixt. 

33  The  noise  thereof  sheweth  concerning  it,  the  cattle 
also  concerning  the  vapour. 

CHAPTER  37. 

AT  this  also  my  heart  trembleth.  and  is  moved  out  of  his 
place. 

2  Hear  attentively  the  noise  of  his  voice,  and  the  sound 
that  goeth  out  of  his  mouth. 

3  He  directeth  it  under  the  whole  heaven,  and  his 
lightning  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

4  After  it  a  voice  roareth:  he  thundereth  with  the 
voice  of  his  excellency ;  and  he  will  not  stay  them  when  his 
voice  is  heard. 

5  God  thundereth  marvellously  with  his  voice;  great 
things  doeth  he,  which  we  cannot  comprehend. 

6  For  he  saith  to  the  snow,  Be  thou  on  the  earth ;  like- 
wise to  the  small  rain,  and  to  the  great  rain  of  his  strength. 

7  Pie  sealeth  up  the  hand  of  every  man ;  that  all  men 
may  know  his  work. 

8  Then  the  beasts  go  into  dens,  and  remain  in  their 
places. 

9  Out  of  the  south  cometh  the  whirlwind:  and  cold 
out  of  the  north. 


72  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

10  By  the  breath  of  God  frost  is  given :  and  the  breadth 
of  the  waters  is  straitened. 

11  Also  by  watering  he  wearieth  the  thick  cloud:  he 
scattereth  his  bright  cloud : 

12  And  it  is  turned  round  about  by  his  counsels:  that 
they  may  do  whatsoever  he  commandeth  them  upon  the 
face  of  the  world  in  the  earth. 

13  He  causeth  it  to  come,  whether  for  correction,  or 
for  his  land,  or  for  mercy. 

14  Hearken  unto  this,  0  Job :  stand  still,  and  consider 
the  wondrous  works  of  God. 

15  Dost  thou  know  when  God  disposed  them,  and 
caused  the  light  of  his  cloud  to  shine? 

16  Dost  thou  know  the  balancings  of  the  clouds  the 
wondrous  works  of  him  which  is  perfect  in  knowledge  ? 

17  How  thy  garments  are  warm  when  he  quieteth  the 
earth  by  the  south  wind? 

18  Hast  thou  with  him  spread  out  the  sky,  which  is 
strong,  and  as  a  molten  looking  glass? 

19  Teach  us  what  we  shall  say  unto  him ;  for  we  cannot 
order  our  speech  by  reason  of  darkness. 

20  Shall  it  be  told  him  that  I  speak?  if  a  man  speak, 
surely  he  shall  be  swallowed  up. 

21  And  now  men  see  not  the  bright  light  which  is  in 
the  clouds :  but  the  wind  passeth,  and  cleanseth  them. 

22  Fair  weather  cometh  out  of  the  north :  with  God  is 
terrible  majesty. 

23  Touching  the.  Almighty,  we  cannot  find  him  out : 
he  is  excellent  in  power,  and  in  judgment,  and  in  plenty  of 
justice:  he  will  not  afflict. 

24  Men  do  therefore  fear  him :  he  respecteth  not  any 
that  are  wise  of  heart. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  73 

CHAPTER  38. 

THEN  the  Lord  answered  Job  out  of  the  whirlwind,  and 
said, 

2  Who  is  this  that  darkeneth  counsel  by  words  without 
knowledge  ? 

3  Gird  up  now  thy  loins  like  a  man ;  for  I  will  demand 
of  thee,  and  answer  thou  me. 

4  Where  wast  thou  when  I  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
earth?  declare,  if  thou  hast  understanding. 

5  Who  hath  laid  the  measures  thereof,  if  thou  knowest  ? 
or  who  hath  stretched  the  line  upon  it? 

6  Whereupon  are  the  foundations  thereof  fastened?  or 
who  laid  the  corner  stone  thereof; 

7  When  the  morning  stars  sang  together,  and  all  the 
sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy? 

8  Or  who  shut  up  the  sea  with  doors,  when  it  brake 
forth,  as  if  it  had  issued  out  of  the  womb  ? 

9  When  I  made  the  cloud  the  garment  thereof,  and 
thick  darkness  a  swaddlingband  for  it. 

10  And  brake  up  for  it  my  decreed  place,  and  set  bars 
and  doors, 

11  And  said,  Hitherto  shalt  thou  come,  but  no  further : 
and  here  shall  thy  proud  waves  be  stayed  ? 

12  Hast  thou  commanded  the  morning  since  thy  days; 
and  caused  the  dayspring  to  know  his  place ; 

13  That  it  might  take  hold  of  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
that  the  wicked  might  be  shaken  out  of  it  ? 

14  It  is  turned  as  clay  to  the  seal ;  and  they  stand  as  a 
garment. 

15  And  from  the  wicked  their  light  is  withholden,  and 
the  high  arm  shall  be  broken. 

16  Hast  thou  entered  into  the  springs  of  the  sea?  or 
hast  thou  walked  in  the  search  of  the  depth  ? 


74  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

17  Have  the  gates  of  death  been  opened  unto  thee  ?  or 
hast  thou  seen  the  doors  of  the  shadow  of  death? 

18  Hast  thou  perceived  the  breadth  of  the  earth?  de- 
clare if  thou  knowest  it  all. 

19  Where  is  the  way  where  light  dwelleth?  and  as  for 
darkness,  where  is  the  place  thereof, 

20  That  thou  shouldst  take  it  to  the  bound  thereof,  and 
that  thou  shouldst  know  the  paths  to  the  house  thereof? 

21  Knowest  thou  it,  because  thou  wast  then  born?  or 
because  the  number  of  thy  days  is  great  ? 

22  Hast  thou  entered  into  the  treasures  of  the  snow? 
or  hast  thou  seen  the  treasures  of  the  hail, 

23  Which  I  have  reserved  against  the  time  of  trouble, 
against  the  day  of  battle  and  war  ? 

24  By  what  way  is  the  light  parted,  which  scattereth 
the  east  wind  upon  the  earth? 

25  Who  hath  divided  a  watercourse  for  the  overflowing 
of  waters,  or  a  way  for  the  lightning  of  thunder ; 

26  To  cause  it  to  rain  on  the  earth,  where  no  man  is; 
on  the  wilderness,  wherein  there  is  no  man ; 

27  To  satisfy  the  desolate  and  waste  ground;  and  to 
cause  the  bud  of  the  tender  herb  to  spring  forth  ? 

28  Hath  the  rain  a  father?  or  who  hath  begotten  the 
drops  of  dew  ? 

29  Out  of  whose  womb  came  the  ice?  and  the  hoary 
frost  of  heaven,  who  hath  gendered  it  ? 

30  The  waters  are  hid  as  with  a  stone,  and  the  face  of 
the  deep  is  frozen. 

31  Canst  thou  bind  the  sweet  influences  of  Pleiades, 
or  loose  the  bands  of  "Orion? 

32  Canst  thou  bring  forth  Mazaroth  in  his  season?  or 
canst  thou  guide  Arcturus  with  his  sons? 

33  Knowest  thou  the  ordinances  of  heaven?  canst  thou 
set  the  dominion  thereof  in  the  earth  ? 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  75 

34  *  Canst  thou  lift  up  thy  voice  to  the  clouds,  that 
abundance  of  water  may  cover  thee  ? 

35  Canst  thou  send  lightnings,  that  they  may  go,  and 
say  unto  thee,  Here  we  aret 

36  Who  hath  put  wisdom  in  the   inward  parts?  or  who 
hath  given  understanding  to  the  heart? 

37  Who  can  number  the  clouds  in  wisdom  ?  or  who  can 
stay  the  bottles  of  heaven, 

38  When  the  dust  groweth  into  hardness,  and  the  clods 
cleave  fast  together? 

39  Wilt  thou  hunt  the  prey  for  the  lion?  or  fill  the 
appetite  of  the  young  lions, 

40  When  they  couch  in  their  dens,  and  abide  in  the 
covert  to  lie  in  wait? 

41  Who  provideth  for  the  raven  his  food?  when  his 
young  ones  cry  unto  God,  they  wander  for  lack  of  meat. 

CHAPTER  39. 

K  NO  WE  ST  thou  the  time  when  the  wild  goats  of  the 
rock  bring  forth?  or  canst  thou  mark  when  the  hinds 
do  calve? 

2  Canst  thou  number  the  months  that  they  fulfil?  or 
knowest  thou  the  time  when  they  bring  forth  ? 

3  They  bow  themselves,  they  bring  forth  their  young 
ones,  they  cast  out  their  sorrows. 

4  Their  young  ones  are  in  good  liking,  they  grow  up 
with  corn ;  they  go  forth,  and  return  not  unto  them. 

5  Who  hath  sent  out  the  wild  ass  free?  or  who  hath 
loosed  the  bands  of  the  wild  ass? 

6  Whose  house  I  have  made  the  wilderness,  and  the 
barren  land  his  dwellings. 

7  He  scorneth  the  multitude  of  the  city,  neither  regard- 
eth  he  the  crying  of  the  driver. 


76  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

8  The  range  of  the  mountains  is  his  pasture,  and  he 
searcheth  after  every  green  thing. 

9  Will  the  unicorn  be  willing  to  serve  thee,  or  abide 
by  thy  crib  ? 

10  Canst  thou  bind  the  unicorn  with  his  band  in  the 
furrow?  or  will  he  harrow  the  valleys  after  thee? 

11  Wilt  thou  trust  him,  because  his  strength  is  great? 
or  wilt  thou  leave  thy  labour  to  him  ? 

12  Wilt  thou  believe  him  that  he  will  bring  home  thy 
seed,  and  gather  it  into  thy  barn  ? 

13  Gavest  thou  the  goodly  wings  unto  the  peacocks? 
or  wings  and  feathers  unto  the  ostrich  ? 

14  Which  leaveth  her  eggs  in  the  earth,  and  warmeth 
them  in  dust, 

15  And  forgetteth  that  the  foot  may  crush  them,  or 
that  the  wild  beast  may  break  them. 

16  She  is  hardened  against  her  young  ones,  as  though 
they  were  not  her's:  her  labour  is  in  vain  without  fear; 

17  Because  God  hath  deprived  her  of  wisdom,  neither 
hath  he  imparted  to  her  understanding. 

18  What  time  she  lifteth  up  herself  on  high,  she  scorn- 
eth  the  horse  and  his  rider. 

19  Hast   thou   given   the    horse   strength?    hast    thou 
clothed  his  neck  with  thunder  ? 

20  Canst  thou  make  him  afraid  as  a  grasshopper?  the 
glory  of  his  nostrils  is  terrible. 

21  He    paweth   in    the   valley,    and    rejoiceth    in    his 
strength :  he  goeth  on  to  meet  the  armed  men. 

22  He  mocketh  at  fear,  and  is  not  affrighted;  neither 
turneth  he  back  from  the  sword. 

23  The  quiver  rattleth  against  him,  the  glittering  spear 
and  the  shield.        _ 

24  He  swalloweth  the  ground  with  fierceness  and  rage : 
neither  believeth  he  that  it  is  the  sound  of  the  trumpet. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  77 

25  He  saith  among  the  trumpets,  Ha,  ha;  and  he 
smelleth  the  battle  afar  off.  the  thunder  of  the  captains, 
and  the  shouting. 

26  Doth  the  hawk  fly  by  thy  wisdom,  and  stretch  her 
wings  toward  the  south? 

27  Doth  the  eagle  mount  up  at  thy  command,  and 
make  her  nest  on  high  ? 

28  She  dwelleth  and  abideth  on  the  rock,  upon  the 
crag  of  the  rock,  and  the  strong  place. 

29  From  thence  she  seeketh  the  prey,  and  her  eyes  be- 
hold afar  off. 

30  Her  young  ones  also  suck  up  blood :  and  where  the 
slain  are,  there  18  she. 

CHAPTER  40. 

MOREOVER  the  Lord  answered  Job,  and  said. 
2     Shall  he  that  contendeth  with  the  Almighty  in- 
struct him?  he  that  reproveth  God,  let  him  answer  it. 

3  ff  Then  Job  answered  the  Lord,  and  said, 

4  Behold,  I  am  vile;  what  shall  I  answer  thee?  I  will 
lay  mine  hand  upon  my  mouth. 

5  Once  have  I  spoken;  but  I  will  not  answer:  yea, 
twice;  but  I  will  proceed  no  further. 

6  ft  Then  answered  the  Lord  unto  Job  out  of  the  whirl- 
wind, and  said, 

7  Gird  up  thy  loins  now  like  a  man :  I  will  demand  of 
thee,  and  declare  thou  unto  me. 

8  Wilt  thou  also  disannul  my  judgment?  wilt  thou 
condemn  me,  that  thou  mayest  be  righteous? 

9  Hast  thou  an  arm  like  God?  or  canst  thou  thunder 
with  a  voice  like  him  ? 

10  Deck  thyself  now  with  majesty  and  excellency;  and 
array  thyself  with  glory  and  beauty. 


78  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

11  Cast  abroad  the  rage  of  thy   wrath:  and  behold 
every  one  that  is  proud,  and  abase  him. 

12  Look  on  every  one  that  is  proud,  and  bring  him 
low ;  and  tread  down  the  wicked  in  their  place. 

13  Hide  them  in  the  dust  together,  and  bind  their 
faces  in  secret. 

14  Then  will  I  also  confess  unto  thee  that  thine  own 
right  hand  can  save  thee. 

15  ft  Behold  now  behemoth,  which  I  made  with  thee ;  he 
eateth  grass  as  an  ox. 

16  Lo  now,  his  strength  is  in  his  loins,  and  his  force  is 
in  the  navel  of  his  belly. 

17  He  moveth  his  tail  like  a  cedar:  the  sinews  of  his 
stones  are  wrapped  together. 

18  His  bones  are  as  strong  pieces  of  brass;  his  bones 
are  like  bars  of  iron. 

19  He  is  the  chief  of  the  ways  of  God:  he  that  made 
him  can  make  his  sword  to  approach  unto  him. 

20  Surely  the  mountains  bring  him  forth  food,  where 
all  the  beasts  of  the  field  play. 

21  He  lieth  under  the  shady  trees,  in  the  covert  of  the 
reed,  and  fens. 

22  The  shady  trees  cover  him  with  their  shadow;  the 
willows  of  the  brook  compass  him  about. 

23  Behold,  he  drinketh  up  a  river,  and  hasteth  not :  he 
trusteth  that  he  can  draw  up  Jordan  into  his  mouth. 

24  He  taketh  it  with  his  eyes :  his  nose  pierceth  through 
snares. 

('IIAPTER  41. 

CANST  thou  draw  out  leviathan  with  an  hook?  or  his 
tongue  with  a  fijord  which  thou  lettest  down. 
2     Canst  thou  put  an  hook  into  his  nose?  or  bore  his 
jaw  through  with  a  thorn  ? 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  79 

3-   Will  he  make  many  supplications  unto  thee?  will  he^ 
speak  soft  words  unto  thee  ? 

4  Will  he  make  a  covenant  with  thee?  wilt  thou  take 
him  for  a  servant  for  ever? 

5  Wilt  thou  play  with  him  as  with  a  bird  ?  or  wilt  thou 
bind  him  for  thy  maidens? 

6  Shall  the  companions  make  a  banquet  of  him?  shall 
they  part  him  among  the  merchants? 

7  Canst  thou  fill  his  skin  with  barbed  irons?  or  his  head 
with  fish  spears? 

8  Lay  thine  hand  upon  him,  remember  the  battle,  do 
no  more. 

9  Behold  the  hope  of  him  is  in  vain:  shall  not  one  be 
cast  down  even  at  the  sight  of  him  ? 

10  None  is  so  fierce  that  dare  stir  him  up :  who  then  is 
able  to  stand  before  me  ? 

11  Who  hath  prevented  me,  that  I  should  repay  him? 
whatsoever  is  under  the  whole  heaven  is  mine. 

12  I  will  not  conceal  his  parts,  nor  his  power,  nor  his 
comely  proportion. 

13  Who  can  discover  the  face  of  his  garment?  or  who 
can  come  to  him  with  his  double  bridle? 

14  Who  can  open  the  doors  of  his  face?  his  teeth  are 
terrible  round  about. 

15  His  scales  are  his  pride,  shut  up  together  as  with 
a  close  seal. 

16  One  is  so  near  to  another,  that  no  air  can  come  be- 
tween them. 

17  They  are  joined  one  to  another,  they  stick  together, 
that  they  cannot  be  sundered. 

18  By  his  neesings  a  light  doth  shine,  and  his  eyes  are 
like  the  eyelids  of  the  morning. 

19  Out  of  his  mouth  go  burning  lamps,  and  sparks  of 
fire  leap  out. 


80  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

20  Out  of  his  nostrils  goeth  smoke,  as  out  of  a  seething 
pot  or  caldron. 

21  His  breath  kindleth  coals,  and  a  flame  goeth  out  of 
his  mouth. 

22  In   his   neck   remaineth    strength,    and   sorrow   is 
turned  into  joy  before  him. 

23  The  flakes  of  his  flesh  are  joined  together :  they  are 
firm  in  themselves ;  they  cannot  be  moved. 

24  His  heart  is  as  firm  as  a  stone;  yea,  as  hard  as  a 
piece  of  the  nether  millstone. 

25  When  he  raiseth  up  himself,  the  mighty  are  afraid : 
by  reason  of  breakings  they  purify  themselves. 

26  The  sword  of  him  that  layeth  at  him  cannot  hold: 
the  spear,  the  dart,  nor  the  habergeon. 

27  He  esteemeth  iron  as  straw,  and  brass  as  rotten 
wood. 

28  The  arrow  cannot  make  him  flee :  slingstones  are 
turned  with  him  into  stubble. 

29  Darts  are  counted  as  stubble:  he  laugheth  at  the 
shaking  of  a  spear. 

30  Sharp  stones  are  under  him:  he  spreadeth  sharp 
pointed  things  upon  the  mire. 

31  He  maketh  the  deep  to  boil  like  a  pot:  he  maketh 
the  sea  like  a  pot  of  ointment. 

32  He  maketh  a  path  to  shine  after  him;  one  would 
think  the  deep  to  be  hoary. 

33  Upon  earth  there  is  not  his  like,  who  is  made  with- 
out fear. 

34  He  beholdeth  all  high  things:  he  is  a  king  over  all 
the  children  of  pride. 

CHAPTER  42. 

THEN  Job  answered  the  Lord,  and  said, 
2     I  know  that  thou  canst  do  every  thing,  and  that  no 
thought  ean  be  withholden  from  thee. 


THE  BOOK  OF  JOB  81 

3  Who  is  he  that  hideth  counsel  without  knowledge? 
therefore  have  I  uttered  that  I  understood  not ;  things  too 
wonderful  for  me,  which  I  knew  not. 

4  Hear,  I  beseech  thee,  and  I  will  speak :  I  will  demand 
of  thee,  and  declare  thou  unto  me. 

5  I  have  heard  of  thee  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear:  but 
now  mine  eye  seeth  thee. 

6  Wherefore  I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in  dust  and 
ashes. 

7  fl  And  it  was  so,  that  after  the  Lord  had  spoken  these 
words  unto  Job,  the  Lord  said  to  Eliphaz  the  Temanite, 
My  wrath  is  kindled  against  thee,  and  against  thy  two 
friends.-  for  ye  have  not  spoken  of  me  the  thing  that  is 
right,  as  my  servant  Job  hath. 

8  Therefore  take  unto  you  now  seven  bullocks  and 
seven  rams,  and  go  to  my  servant  Job,  and  offer  up  for 
yourselves  a  burnt  offering ;  and  my  servant  Job  shall  pray 
for  you :  for  him  will  I  accept :  lest  I  deal  with  you  after 
your  folly,  in  that  ye  have  not  spoken  of  me  the  thing 
which  is  right,  like  my  servant  Job. 

9  So  Eliphaz  the  Temanite  and  Bildad  the  Shuhite  and 
Zophar  the  Naamathite  went,  and  did  according  as  the  Lord 
commanded  them :  the  Lord  also  accepted  Job. 

10  And  the  Lord  turned  the  captivity  of  Job,  when  he 
prayed  for  his  friends:  also  the  Lord  gave  Job  twice  as 
much  as  he  had  before. 

11  Then  came  there  unto  him  all  his  brethren,  and  all 
his  sisters,  and  all  they  that  had  been  of  his  acquaintance 
before,  and  did  eat  bread  with  him  in  his  house:  and  they 
bemoaned  him  and  comforted  him  over  all  the  evil  that  the 
Lord  had  brought  upon  him:  every  man  also  gave  him  a 
piece  of  money,  and  everyone  an  earring  of  gold. 

12  So  the  Lord  blessed  the  latter  end  of  Job  more  than 
his  beginning:  for  he  had  fourteen  thousand  sheep,  and  six 


82  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB 

thousand  camels,  and  a  thousand  yoke  of  oxen,  and  a  thou- 
sand she  asses. 

13  He  had  also  seven  sons  and  three  daughters. 

14  And  he  called  the  name  of  the  first,  Jemima;  and 
the  name  of  the  second,  Kezia;  and  the  name  of  the  third, 
Kerenhappuch. 

15  And  in  all  the  land  were  no  women  found  so  fair 
as  the  daughters  of  Job:  and  their  father  gave  them  in- 
heritance among  their  brethren. 

16  After  this  lived  Job  an  hundred  and  forty  years, 
and  saw  his  sons,  and  his  sons'  sons,  even  four  generations. 

17  So  Job  died,  being  old  and  full  of  days. 


PRELIMINARY 

An  imaginative  dialogue — given  as  a  possible  illustra- 
tion of  what  may  have  been  thought  of  Job  by  his  con- 
temporaries and  acquaintances. 
Scene: 

A  roadside  small  farm  and  inn,  in  a  ravine  leading 
from  the  hill  country  to  the  valley  in  the  land  of  Uz. 
Characters : 

Jonas ;  keeper  of  the  inn,  and  a  small  farmer. 
Zadok ;  an  upper  country  squire  and  leading  citizen. 
Two  or  three  herders  and  drivers. 
Mrs.  Jonas  and  children. 
Farm  animals,  etc. 

In  the  forenoon,  Zadok  arrives  at  the  inn. 

Jonas. — I  bow  to  you,  Zadok ! 

Zadok. — All  greetings  to  you ! 

Jonas. — I  have  been  expecting  you  for  several  days. 

Zadok.— How  is  that? 

Jonas. — I 'heard  you  were  collecting  for  Job's  dona- 
tion, and  were  coming  down  this  way. 

Zadok. — Yes,  I  am  greatly  interested  in  Job's  case, 
and  have  been  working  on  this  line  off  and  on  for  some 
weeks. 

Jonas. — Glad  to  hear  it.  You  are  just  the  man  for  it. 
Now  to  me,  Job  and  his  wife  seem  'bout  like  Adam  and 
Eve.  They  had  too  easy  a  time  of  it  when  they  started 
in,  got  themselves  into  trouble — one  as  bad  as  t'other — 
had  to  get  out  of  the  garden  and  start  over  again — had 
to  work  instead  of  sitting  'round  doing  nothing;  and  a 
man  will  do  lots  of  things  when  he's  got  to.  I've  found 
that  out  by  myself! 

83 


84  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

Well,  how  did  you  make  out  collecting? 

Zadok. — Fairly;  I  saw  and  talked  with  nearly  all  the 
farmers  in  our  region ;  some  gave  liberally — even  camels 
— some  gave  all  they  could — even  though  only  a  sheep — 
a  few  gave  gold.  Some  wouldn't  do  anything,  and  pre- 
tended they  knew  all  about  Job,  and  he  was  "no  good" ! 
How  easy  it  is  to  find  reasons  for  being  mean,  isn't  it? 
Some  of  these  same  fellows  used  to  shout  for  Job  before 
he  fell  down.  And  they  really  knew  little  or  nothing 
about  him — didn't  grow  up  and  go  to  school  with  him  as 
I  did.    What  are  you  going  to  do  for  us,  Jonas? 

Jonas. — I've  been  thinking  some  about  that  lately; 
thought  some  about  giving  my  wife's  earrings,  but  she 
said  they  were  not  solid  and  we  would  be  ashamed  to 
give  such  stuff.     So — I — don't — quite — know — . 

Zadok. — Yes,  yes;  I  never  thought  there  was  any- 
thing very  bad  about  you,  but  I  always  said  your  wife 
was  the  best  part  of  you. 

Jonas. — I  guess  so.  Now,  you  know  my  uncle  Esdras 
— down  at  Big  Flat,  he  is  going  to  turn  in  his  big  red 
oxen ;  I  heard  him  say  so — and  they  are  as  likely  a  pair 
of  cattle  as  I  most  ever  did  see;  heavy,  kind,  and  well 
broke. 

Zadok. — I  know  Esdras — knew  him  many  years  be- 
fore you  were  born,  and  I  am  intending  to  stop  over  with 
him  tonight.  The  red  oxen  will  be  all  right;  but  before 
we  leave  in  the  morning  he  will  turn  in  a  couple  of  cam- 
els beside.  If  not,  you  tell  me  about  it.  Now,  there's  the 
herd  coming  down  the  trail.    What  is  Jonas  going  to  do? 

Jonas. — (hesitating) — Well,  I've  got  a  very  fine 
blooded  goat  that  I've  been  thinking  some  about — and  a 
little  about  that  brrndle  heifer.  Uncle  Esdras  says  that 
goat  is  really  first-class,  and  everybody  that  sees  him 
seems   to  be   of  the   same   way  of  thinking.     See   how 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  85 

comely  and  lithe  he  is, — and  what  a  clear  eye  he  has — 
and — . 

(Here  Mrs.  Jonas  calls  out  from  the  door:  "Now, 
Jonas,  you  know  that's  a  good-for-nothing  goat.  You 
just  give  the  brindle  heifer,  same  as  I  told  you."  And 
the  heifer  is  driven  away  with  the  passing  herd.) 

Zadok. — (Sitting  down  for  a  few  minutes'  rest  before 
following  the  herd.)  Now,  didn't  I  say  your  wife  was 
the  best  part  of  you?  You  won't  be  sorry  foF  giving  that 
heifer.  You  have  done  a  kind  act,  and  will  be  repaid  in 
some  way,  even  if  you  never  know  how.  Job  always 
was  a  good  fellow  at  heart,  but  you  mark  my  words,  he'll 
be  better  now  than  he  ever  was  before,  because  misfor- 
tunes will  improve  every  man  that  lives  through  them ; 
and  he  has  had  his  share.  When  we  were  boys  together, 
he  was  the  brightest  .boy  in  the  school,  and  as  kind  and 
unselfish  as  he  was  bright.  He  would  help  all  the  boys 
who  were  backward — often  gave  me  a  lift  on  some  tough 
problem — and  he  was  always  ready  to  fight,  even  a  big- 
ger boy  than  himself,  for  imposing  on  some  weaker  boy 
or  underling.  And  this  kind  of  work — for  others — he  just 
took  delight  in.  And  as  he  grew  to  be  a  young  man  he 
was  just  the  same  kind  of  a  fellow.  His  father  thought 
the  world  of  him,  but  the  old  man  was  very  strict  and 
severe,  and  kept  him  along  very  close  lines.  He  tried 
all  he  could  t«>  make  Job  as  good  a  business  man  as  he 
himself  was. 

But  Job  had  his  own  notions,  and  didn't  al- 
ways take  the  old  man's  advice.  He  would  often  follow  his 
own  inclinations — right  or  wrong — no  matter  what  the 
old  man  said  or  thought,  lie  considered  his  father  be- 
hind the  times.  And  when  his  own  boys  grew  up,  they 
all  seemed  to  have  a  corresponding  opinion  of  him. 

Now,  his  mother  was  quite  different.     She  used  to  let 


86  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

him  have  his  own  way  and  about  always  took  his  part 
when  his  father  scolded  or  found  fault  with  him.  Conse- 
quently, the  old  man's  influence  grew  less  and  less,  and 
this  worried  him  till  he  died.  And  when  Job  came  into 
his  property  he  just  made  things  hum.  He  was  like  a 
fiery  horse  without  a  bridle.  He  married,  but  I  have 
heard  that  his  wife  was  a  very  showy  woman,  and  only 
helped  Job  to  splurge,  more  than  to  be  careful  and  con- 
siderate. Well,  for  a  time  things  seemed  to  go  along  as 
well,  or  better,  than  when  the  old  man  was  managing. 
She  got  to  be  more  and  more  extravagant  in  every  way, 
and  Job  was  as  generous  as  she  was  reckless.  His  kind- 
ness made  him  forget  prudence.  But  no  one  seemed  to 
realize  how  much  he  was  in  debt  till  bad  luck  came  upon 
him,  and  then  everything  broke  out  at  once.  His  credi- 
tors made  a  regular  stampede — seized  and  sold  off  all 
his  stock  and  whatever  he  had,  nor  did  he  try  to  keep 
anything  back — just  let  it  all  go.  And  he  seemed  to 
stand  up  pretty  well  so  far,  but  when  that  hurricane  de- 
stroyed the  big  house  he  had  built  for  his  eldest  son — 
you  know  all  his  ten  children  were  killed  in  that  smash- 
up — he  broke  down  completely.  Job  thought  the  world 
and  all  of  his  boys  and  used  to  feel  that  he  was  some- 
what to  blame  for  their  wildness.  And  he  used  to  think 
more  about  this  whenever  they  had  one  of  their  drink- 
ing carousals  (Job  1:4,  5  and  18).  He  tried  then  to 
straighten  them  out,  but  'twas  too  late. 

Well,  both  he  and  his  wife  took  to  worrying  and 
fretting  about  it,  and  that  did  them  no  good.  She  went 
wild  over  it,  and  Job,  harassed  by  their  condition,  could 
hardly  sleep  or  rest.  Discouragement  brought  disease 
and  made  him  a  very  sick  man.  His  wife  blamed  God 
for  all  their  troubles,  but  her  foolishness  seemed  to  bring 
him  to  his  senses   (Job  2:9  and  10). 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  87 

This  will  T  say  for  Job,  though  he  was  not  satisfied, 
yet  he  retained  a  strong  faith  in  God  (Job  19:25-26). 
That  was  his  anchor — faith  in  God.  But,  Jonas,  let  me 
tell  you  something:  Implicit  and  unyielding  faith  in  God, 
even  though  we  do  not  understand  his  dealings,  is  the 
grandest  asset  that  any  man  can  have,  for  it  will  be  a 
support  to  him  when  all  things  else  fail !  And  this — Job's 
experience  has  helped  me  to  realize. 

You  must  have  known  his  boys? 

Jonas. — Yes.  somewhat.  They  were  mostly  older 
than  I  and  wouldn't  hardly  look  at  me.  My  father  didn't 
have  the  shekels.  They  used  to  have  camel  races  every 
day — to  school  in  the  morning,  and  back  home  in  the 
evening;  and  I  tell  you,  we  little  fellows  had  to  clear 
the  track  and  get  out  of  the  way.  So  did  the  geese  and 
the  dogs,  and  even  grown  folks,  too.  They  were  terrors ! 
Always  had  liquor  with  them  when  they  came,  and 
empty  bottles  when  they  went  back.  Wet  or  dry,  hot  or 
cold,  it  made  no  difference.  They  kicked  up  an  awful 
dust  in  dry  weather  and  splashed  through  the  mud  when 
it  rained.  Sometimes  one  would  win  and  sometimes  an- 
other, and  they  often  disputed  and  quarreled  about 
crowding,  and  such  like — I've  seen  'em  fight  over  it. 

After  they  got  married,  I  pretty  much  lost  account  of 
them — only  used  to  hear  once  in  a  while,  but  I  disre- 
member  hearing  much  good  about  'em.  The  young- 
est was  about  my  age.  As  a  little  chap  he  was 
first  rate,  but  I  heard  that  when  he  grew  up  he  was  about 
like  the  rest,  or  maybe  worse,  for  he  had  more  bad  pat- 
terns to  follow  after,  and  that  might  naturally  have 
worked  agin  him.  But  I  don't  really  know  and  have 
paid  no  attention  to  it.  I've  got  about  all  I  can  do  keep- 
in'  myself  straight.  And  whenever  I  do  happen  to  think 
about  these  more  important  folks — and  their  troubles,  it 


88  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

makes  me  more  contented  right  here  on  my  little  place. 
If  my  house  should  blow  down,  it  wouldn't  be  apt  to 
hurt  any  of  us.  Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  There's  some  good  in 
being  poor,  after  all. 

Zadok. — Truly  yes,  Jonas!  There's  more  truth  in 
what  you  have  just  said  than  men  are  apt  to  remember. 
Truly  yes. 

(They  part  with  expressions  of  good  will,  Zadok  rid- 
ing down  the  road, — Jonas  going  to  his  farm  work  and 
wishing  himself  like  his  departing  friend.) 

Zadok. — (soliloquizing) — "Surely,  it  takes  everything 
to  make  a  world!  Surely,  we  all  have  our  special  place 
and  our  appointed  work.  Surely,  this  young  fellow,  con- 
tentedly living  a  simple  life,  doing  his  plain  duty,  use- 
ful to  his  family  and  those  who  depend  upon  him — sure- 
ly, he  is  better  off  than  Job's  boys  at  their  best — better 
off  than  Job — and  surely — better  off  than  I !  O,  for  con- 
tentment! Yes,  yes;  well,  so  goes  the  world!" 
****** 

A  younger  man  than  I  has  read  this  little  dialogue 
and  promptly  comments  as  follows : 

"It  is  too  hypothetical  and  a  mistake.  Job  was  a  per- 
fect and  an  upright  man.  The  Bible  so  states  in  the  first 
verse  of  the  book,  and  the  Lord  said  so  in  the  eighth 
verse  of  the  first  chapter." 

Granted,  my  young  friend ;  and  I  am  glad  to  find  you 
are  something  of  a  student  of  the  Bible.  Also  I  advise, 
my  boy,  that  you  continue  this  most  important  study 
and  do  not  delay  it.  Your  present  concept  of  Job  may  be 
modified.  I  am  glad,  however,  for  the  criticism,  for  it 
shows  the  superficial  impression  of  many. 

No  living  man  'can  perfectly  understand,  much  less 
explain,  the  deep  meanings  of  the  Bible  (2nd  Peter  3:16). 
Nor  Peter,  nor   Paul,  could  see  clearly.     Nevertheless, 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  89 

there  -stands  Jesus'  command,  "Search  ye  the  Scrip- 
tures". 

So  let  us  look  at  the  eighth  verse  of  the  first  chapter 
of  Job,  which  says : 

"And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  Hast  thou  considered 
my  servant  Job,  that  there  is  none  like  him  in  the  earth, 
a  perfect  and  an  upright  man,  one  that  feareth  God,  and 
escheweth  evil?" 

We  have  no  record  of  the  author.  But  let  us  begin 
our  search  by  considering  who  was  the  speaker,  and  to 
whom  was  he  speaking;  and  straightway  these  questions 
come  up  : 

1st.  Does  Deity  confer  with  and  consult  Satan? 

2nd.  Does  God  debate  and  bargain  with  the  Devil  ("a 
liar  from  the  beginning  and  the  father  of  it")  in  his  deal- 
ings with  men? 

3rd.  Is  God,  who  is  love,  influenced  by  hate? 

4th.  Are  these  the  methods  of  Spirit,  or  "a  Spirit" — 
God? 

5th.  Is  there  a  perfect  man  in  the  earth? 

Now,  unless  these  five  direct  questions  can  be  an- 
swered affirmatively,  we  have  absolutely  no  evidence  of 
Job's  perfection  or  uprightness  during  his  early  days  of 
material  prosperity,  except  his  own  words.  These  words 
his  three  friends  attributed  to  self-righteousness  (Job 
32:1).     And  the  "suffering  still  continues". 

Furthermore,  Elihu,  addressing  the  three  "wise  men" 
(who  claimed  to  be  better  than  Job  but  were  not  so,  as 
finally  shown),  gave  his  estimate  of  their  friend  (Job  34: 
7,  8,  9).     And  the  "suffering  still  continues". 

Finally  Job  himself,  when  he  discerns  the  voice  of 
Eternal  Truth  out  of  the  whirlwind  of  his  experience  and 
his  awakened  consciousness,  confesses  and  acknowledges 
with  these  words:  "Behold  I  am  vile; — I   will  lay  mine 


90  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

hand  upon  my  mouth";  and  still  later,  when  his  spiritual 
eyes  are  opened,  he  says :  "But  now  mine  eye  seeth  thee 
— wherefore  I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in  dust  and 
ashes."  So !  Where  now  is  the  evidence  of  "a  perfect 
and  an  upright  man — in  the  earth"? 

Job  was  possibly,  even  probably,  about  seventy  years 
of  age  when  the  most  wonderful  experiences  of  his 
earthly  career  came  to  him.  This  may  be  presumed 
from  his  having  grown-up  sons  and  daughters  living  in 
their  different  houses  and  enjoying  the  flippant  lives  of 
the  careless.  Had  he  not  thus  passed  through  his  allotted 
"three  score  and  ten"? 

The  writer  would  not  willingly  be  unjust  to  the 
memory  of  Job.  I  estimate  him  from  a  knowledge  of 
men  that  I  have  seen  and  known ;  and  from  my  own 
severe  trials.  I  do  not  believe  he  was  a  distinctly  bad 
man,  nor  a  type  of  such,  but  that,  in  common  with  the 
rest  of  mankind,  he  needed  the  regeneration  which  finally 
came.    "Experience  is  a  great  teacher!" 

I  have  no  confidence  in  the  recommendation  of  that 
so-called  lord  who  is  supposed  to  have  talked  with  the 
devil,  and  who  claimed  to  be  the  master  of  Job.  Aye! 
I  will  go  farther,  even  though  he  may  have  lorded  it  over 
me  for  "three  score  years  and  ten".  I  utterly  repudiate 
him !  I  deny  his  pretention ! 

The  real  Master  once  said:  "The  prince  of  this  world 
cometh  and  hath  nothing  in  me."  Who,  or  what  is 
this  prince? 

I  do  not  presume  to  fully  comprehend  the  great  truths 
of  the  Bible  but,  nevertheless,  from  my  present  light,  I 
believe  that  this  "prince  of  this  world",  the  Lord  spoken 
of  in  Job  as  talking  with  Satan,  and  the  Lord  who 
"formed  man  out  of  the  dust  of  the  ground",  if  not  the 
same,  are  closely  related  together!  And  farther, — on  this 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  91 

I  stand:  To  believe  in  them  as  Deity,  or  of  Deity,  is  to 
dishonor  God,  Eternal  Good. 

"God  is  Spirit" ;  and  the  overshadowing  command, — 
itself  forever  Spiritual — is,  "Thou  shalt  have  no  other 
gods,  before  Me". 

Nineteen  hundred  years  ago  Jesus  said  to  the  tempter, 
"the  prince  of  this  world",  "Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan 

thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy  God." 

So  says  the  Christ  today. 

Is  it  difficult  to  see  the  utter  falsity  of  a  statement 
that  "the  Lord  thy  God"  ever  conferred  with  Satan? 


A  SUMMARY. 

We  naturally  sympathize  with  Job.  Suffering  excites 
the  emotion  of  pity.  Superficially  we  regard  him  as  a 
fine  example  of  an  upright  man  and  he  evidently  was 
(or  had  previously  been)  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  an  ex- 
cellent opinion  of  himself  and  his  much  valued  reputa- 
tion. The  historical  account  gives  him  an  exalted  posi- 
tion. His  three  friends  apparently  respect  him  and  are 
very  considerate  in  the  early  part  of  the  controversy. 
but  in  their  later  words,  when  they  become  annoyed  and 
angry,  they  charge  him  with  swindling,  oppression  and 
cruelty.  Some  men,  even  in  our  day,  will  suggest,  hint 
and  insinuate,  but  get  them  angry  and  they  become  more 
reliably  truthful  and  state  the  facts. 

The  writer  claims  to  understand  Job  through  similar- 
ity of  experiences  and,  therefore,  it  follows  that  in  show- 
ing his  faults  I  must  condemn  myself.  Even  this  shall 
not  deter  me  from  telling  the  truth,  for  the  parallel  must 
not  be  abridged.  Job  had  not  been  quite  what  he  claimed 
to  be  (Chap.  29:14).  Putting  on  righteousness,  he  gave 
himself  credit  for  doing  so  much  good  to  those  who  sur- 
rounded him,  and  this  was  probably  true.     How  easily 


92  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

we  refer  to  the  great  amount  of  good  we  have  done,  and 
are  proud  of  it! 

Are  men  of  reputation  ( !)  for  good  works  equally 
willing  to  tell  the  truth  concerning  the  mistakes  that 
make  up  the  other  and  less  satisfactory  side  of  their  ex- 
perience— the  selfish  work  of  former  days? 

Have  you  not  often  heard  men  talk  of  what  wonder- 
ful examples  of  uprightness,  liberality,  kindness  and  ex- 
cellency they  "used  to  be"  before  they  had  bad  luck? 
Or  does  not  a  lazy  man  delight  in  detailing  how  hard  he 
used  to  work  in  former  years,  or  some  other  place  or  po- 
sition? 

It  is  made  plain  that  Elihu,  with  all  his  charity  and 
kindness  toward  Job  did  not  fail  to  consider  both  his 
virtues  and  his  faults.  (See  Chap.  34:4,  7,  8,  9,  35,  36, 
37.) 

Paul,  in  his  early  life,  prided  himself  on  being  "a 
Pharisee,  the  son  of  a  Pharisee"  and  "lived  a  Pharisee". 
So!  Now,  my  friends,  just  think  of  this,  remembering, 
that  we  are  dealing  with  facts  in  all  earnestness  and 
sincerity,  trying  to  be  absolutely  honest  and  to  call  things 
by  their  right  names.  In  the  23rd  chapter  of  Matthew, 
the  Master  describes  what  the  Pharisees  really  were. 
And  today,  "Pharisees  and  sons  of  Pharisees"  are  re- 
clining in  the  homes  of  wealth,  directing  finance  in 
richly  fitted  offices  of  bankers,  sitting  in  judges'  chairs 
in  our  courts — yes,  and  in  some  cases  preaching  from 
religious  pulpits.  O  ye  Pharisees!  Regeneration  must 
come  to  you  "some  way — somewhere",  even  as  it  came 
to  Job,  or  to  Saul  of  Tarsus.  O  Job !  O  Paul !  Regenera- 
tion came  to  you!  Even  you!  (John  3:6.)  The  solicitude 
of  the  Pharisees^ancient  or  modern,  to  appear  upright, 
preponderates  over  their  desire  to  be  correct. 

There  are  today  thousands  of  men  in   all  walks  of 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  93 

life  who  might,  with  advantage  and  profit,  compare  their 
lives  with  that  of  Job.  My  friend,  are  you  one  of  them  ? 
I  cannot  hear  your  answer — but  if  it  be  "yes",  then  there 
is  a  strong  sympathy  between  us, — that  is,  Job,  yourself 
and  the  writer. 

Job's  unsatisfactory  condition  he  sets  forth  especially 
in  chapters  12,  13,  14,  16,  19,  21,  23  and  26  to  31,  inclusive. 
Don't  hastily  say  I  am  giving  you  too  lengthy  references 
or  "I  haven't  time",*  but  read  them  and  refer  to  them 
more  than  once.  And  remember  that,  during  all  this 
time,  his  old  companions  were  earnestly  endeavoring 
to  "explain  things"  to  him.  But  still  Job  remained  un- 
satisfied; nor  could  his  honest  and  kindhearted  friends 
convince  him,  because,  most  clearly,  he  realized  that 
their  knowledge  was  not  in  advance  of  his  own.  And 
so  it  proved.     His  suffering  continued: 

The  friends  spoke  from  the  standpoint  of  traditional 
information  (variable)  and  human  reasoning  (opinions, 
liable  to  differ),  while  the  younger  man  based  his  words 
on  Spiritual  understanding  (unerring  truth).  (See  Job 
32:8  and  18.  Also  Chap.  33:4-6.  Also  Chap.  36:3,  4 
and   5.) 

Turn  now  to  chapter  40.  Job  here  makes  complete 
and  entire  submission,  acknowledges  his  vileness  (errors 
and  iniquities),  silences  his  selfish  self;  and  listens  to 
Truth ;  the  ever-coming  Christ,  which  was  "before  Abra- 
ham" (John  8:58),  and  "before  the  world  was".  (John 
17:5.) 

Verses  7  to  14  inclusive,  show  to  Job  (and  to  us  of 
today  also),  the  utter  inability  of  man  to  save  himself 
with  or  by  his  "own  right  hand",— which  is  human 
knowledge. 

•This  was  Agrippa's  excuse  to  Paul. 


94  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

Next  (verses  15  to  24),  this  monster,  human  knowl- 
edge, is  allegorically  compared  to  Behemoth. 

Following  this  comes  chapter  41,  which  is  entirely- 
given  up  to  another  allegory,  namely,  a  description  of  a 
larger,  more  powerful,  more  terrible  and  more  cruel 
monster  of  the  deep.  This  "deep"  by  no  means  refers 
to  river  or  sea,  but  to  the  fathomless  ocean  of  conscious 
existence.  In  this  incomprehensible  and  boundless 
ocean,  "Wherein  are  things  creeping  innumerable,  both 
small  and  great  beasts",  there  is  evil,  which  "plays  there- 
in".    (See  Ps.  104:25-26.) 

But,  in  considering  these  things,  materiality  must  be 
set  aside  as  a  dim  candle,  and  the  towering  flame  of 
Spirituality  must  be  the  Light.  Mortal  eye  sees  it  not, 
and  mortal  ear  distinguishes  it  not. 

This  is  made  plain  in  Isaiah's  vision  (6th  chap,  of 
Isaiah),  where,  by  Divine  command,  he  says,  "Hear  ye 
indeed,  but  understand  not;  and  see  ye  indeed,  but  per- 
ceive not".  And  the  Master  confirms  this.  (Mat.  13:14 
and  Mark  4:12.) 

Of  old,  Saul  of  Tarsus  was  well  provided  with  what 
is  called  "good  common  sense",  and  also,  for  his  day,  a 
full  stock  of  "literary  perception",  and  reason  held  full 
sway.    So ! 

But  Paul,  "called  to  be  apostle  of  Jesus  Christ  through 
the  will  of  God",  put  aside  his  reasoning  mentality  ex- 
cept as  it  was  subservient  to  spirituality.  No  longer 
did  his  faith  stand  "in  the  wisdom  of  men,  but  in  the 
power  of  God".  This  he  taught  to  his  brethren.  This 
he  is  today  saying  to  you.  This,  in  an  advanced  condi- 
tion, here  or  in  the  hereafter,  all  must  understand. 

Here,  my  brother,  is  our  trouble,  as  Paul  points  out 
to  us,  "The  natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him ;  neither 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  95 

can  he^  know  them,  because  they  are  spiritually  dis- 
cerned" (1st  Cor.  2:14).  What  a  mine  of  instruction  is 
this  second  chapter  of  First  Corinthians!  The  Spiritual, 
over  that  which  "cometh  of  evil"  (Mat.  5:37). 

Regenerated  Paul  often  refers  to  unregenerated 
Saul  with  his  load  of  human  mistakes  and  iniquities.  As 
examples  see  Acts,  22:19-20;  Romans,  7:8;  Titus,  3:3, 
and  others. 

Does  it  appear  to  most  Bible  readers  of  today  that 
the  lord,  who  talked  with  the  devil,  and  was  moved  by 
him  (Job  2:3),  is  identical  with  He  who  "answered  Job 
out  of  the  whirlwind"? 

If  so,  I  do  not  agree  with  them.  And  if  they  believe 
that  the  Lord  who  formed  Adam  "out  of  dust"  is  identi- 
cal with  Him  who  "created  man  in  His  own  image", 
again  I  do  not  agree  with  them. 

And  if  they  believe  that  the  earthy  man  is  identical 
with  the  man  "after  God's  likeness",  once  more,  I  do  not 
agree  with  them. 

Let  me  not  be  presumptuous,  but  rather  will  I  beg 
and  entreat  my  friends  and  all  whom  I  may  influence  in 
any  degree,  that  they  may  study  the  Bible  more  and  more, 
with  an  earnest  desire  for  Spiritual  Understanding;  and 
this  itself,  in  some  measure,  shall  be  your  reward. 

Do  not  expect  this  in  its  fullness  and  perfection,  for 
you  will  not  be  likely  to  attain  such  elevation.  Paul  could 
not  accomplish  this.  (Phil.  3  :12-13.)  But  you  can  advance 
through  sincere  and  honest  desire  and  willingness  to 
work  earnestly.  When  you  have  ascended  the  high  and 
beautiful  mountain  before  you,  from  this  new  vista  will 
be  seen  another  higher  and  more  beautiful  range. 


96  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

CHAPTER  I. 

Story  of  the  Dispute. 

"There  was  a  man  in  the  land  of  Uz,  whose  name 
was  Job".  This  is  the  opening  sentence  of  the  book  of 
Job.  Of  this  book  and  what  it  means  to  humanity  I  pro- 
pose to  write  a  few  pages  of  opinions,  not  claiming  the 
support  of  any  authority  beyond  or  above  my  own  con- 
ception of  the  book  itself ;  of  the  Bible  and  its  teachings 
and  methods  of  instruction  to  mortals ;  of  things  that 
have  come  into  my  experience  in  a  manner  unaccount- 
able to  me,  and  through  varied  occurrences  and  observa- 
tions of  a  lifetime. 

The  land  of  Uz  seems  very  indefinite  as  to  location, 
and  this  is  well,  for  its  exact  boundaries  or  history  are 
to  the  people  of  today  of  little  importance.  While  it  would 
be  interesting  to  know  something  of  the  history  of  the 
author  of  the  book  of  Job,  of  whom  the  highest  authori- 
ties can  go  little  farther  than  to  say  that  he  antedated 
Moses,  nevertheless,  the  great  value  of  the  book  to  the 
people  of  this  age  is  in  its  allegorical  interpretation. 
Viewed  in  this  light,  the  land  of  Uz  may  be  any  and  every 
locality,  and  Job  any  and  every  man.  Moreover,  the  date 
of  the  occurrence  of  the  drama  may  be  thirty-five  cen- 
turies ago  or  in  any  century  following,  or  even  preceding. 

The  story  must  have  been  fact,  or  founded  on  fact 
Imaginative  though  poet  and  dramatist  may  be,  "Truth 
is  stranger  than  fiction".  Man  cannot  conceive  of  such 
imagery.  Its  foundation  must  have  been  on  actual  oc- 
currences.    It  might  be  called  a  history  of  regeneration. 

The  whole  wonderful  account  of  Job  portrays  the 
history  of  a  proud,  prosperous,  boastful  and  worldly 
man ;   filled   with   a   sense   of   self-assertiveness    through 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  97 

what  he  considers  his  own  achievements  above  those  of 
other  mortals.  He  is  represented  to  be  wealthy,  as 
wealth  was  estimated  in  ancient  times. 

"His  substance  was  seven  thousand  sheep,  and  three 
thousand  camels,  and  five  hundred  yoke  of  oxen,  and  five 
hundred  she  asses,  and  a  very  large  household ;  so  that 
this  man  was  the  greatest  of  all  the  men  of  the  east." 
(Chap.  1 :3.) 

So  he  was  great  chiefly  on  account  of  his  wealth,  but 
it  is  not  related  how  he  came  into  possession  of  that 
wealth.  Growing  rich  by  breeding  cattle  is  a  slow  pro- 
cedure, so  that  it  seems  natural  to  presume  that  most 
of  Job's  riches  came  through  inheritance,  and  therefore 
he  may  be  considered  to  a  certain  extent  as  a  parallel  of 
the  "spoiled  child  of  fortune".  Such  usually  do  not  have 
cares  or  responsibilities  thrust  upon  them  in  early  life, 
and  are  not  infrequently  improved  through  disappoint- 
ments and  trials.  In  fact,  few  men  really  develop  into 
usefulness  unless  it  be  through  encountering  and  over- 
coming troubles  in  some  form,  and  the  more  formidable 
these  troubles,  the  grander  will  be  the  victory  over  them. 

However,  Job's  reputation  was  that  of  a  good  man. 
Without  any  discernible  cause,  misfortunes  and  disas- 
ters came  upon  him  thick  and  fast ;  first  through  the  loss 
of  his  property,  followed  immediately  by  the  death  of  all 
his  children.  Yet  Job  said,  "The  Lord  gave,  and  the 
Lord  hath  taken  away;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

"In  all  this  Job  sinned  not  nor  charged  God  foolishly." 
Chap.  I,  vs.  21,  22. 

Next,  by  permission  of  the  Lord,  he  is  given  into  the 
hand  of  Satan  (Chap.  2:6),  and  by  him  is  smitten  "with 
sore  boils  from  the  sole  of  his  foot  unto  his  crown". 

Human  reason  and  human  sense  of  justice  will  at 
once  cry  out  why?     But  human  reason  can  give  no  an- 


98  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

swer,  though  it  tries  to,  for  we  see  no  justice  in  what  we 
regard  as  punishment,  except  it  be  for  the  committing  of 
an  offence ;  and  in  Job's  case  there  seems  to  have  been 
no  offence. 

A  sense  of  resentment  causes  Job's  wife  to  exclaim, 
as  she  sees  him  in  his  suffering  and  thinks  of  their  dis- 
appointments and  misery,  "Dost  thou  still  retain  thine 
integrity?     Curse  God,  and  die." 

"But  he  said  unto  her,  Thou  speakest  as  one  of  the 
foolish  women  speaketh.  What?  Shall  we  receive  good 
at  the  hand  of  God,  and  shall  we  not  receive  evil?  In  all 
this  did  not  Job  sin  with  his  lips."    (Chap.  2:10.) 

Evidently,  Job  considered  God  the  author  of  good  and 
evil. 

Now,  It  will  be  remembered,  Job's  three  neighbors 
(friends)  appear  upon  the  scene,  Eliphaz,  Bildad  and 
Zophar.  They  all  are  supposed  to  be  older  than  Job, 
and  on  that  account  consider  themselves  superior  to 
him  in  wisdom  and  understanding,  but  this  assumption 
is  not  admitted  by  Job.  Each  one  points  out  the  reason 
of  the  troubles  and  afflictions  that  have  come  upon  him, 
and  all  agree  that  these  proved  him  guilty  of  great  wick- 
edness. Also  each  one  prescribes  a  course  for  him  to 
follow,  declaring  that  the  result  of  adopting  their  indi- 
vidual advice,  will  certainly  meet  the  requirements  of  his 
condition. 

Eliphaz  regards  Job  as  foolish,  shortsighted,  silly, 
etc.,  and  gives  his  advice. 

Bildad  tells  Job  he  is  not  prayerful  enough,  nor  "pure 
and  upright" ;  experience  shows  this.  He  may,  by  and 
by,  do  better,  etc.,  and  gives  his  advice. 

Zophar  accuses  Job  of  talking  and  lying  and  mocking, 
for  which  he  deserves  more  punishment,  and  then  offers 
his  advice.     How  eminently  human ! 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  99 

Job  indignantly  denies  their  accusations  and  scorns 
their  claims  of  superiority.  Instead  of  comforting,  they 
only  mock  him.  "Let  them  go  to  the  beasts,  the  fowl's 
of  the  air,  or  to  the  earth,  and  the  fishes  of  the  sea  for  in- 
struction." (See  Chapters  12  and  13.)* 

These  chapters  indicate  Job's  sentiments  towards  his 
critical  and  somewhat  presumptuous  friends,  whom  he 
calls  "forgers  of  lies",  and  "physicians  of  no  value",  and 
says,  "Hold  your  peace  and  it  should  be  your_  wisdom". 
Job's  reverence  toward  God  is  boundless,  but  he  desires 
to  reason  with  Him,  showing  concurrence  with  his  friends 
in  a  conception  of  God  as  material, — not  as  Spiritual. 
At  the  beginning  of  Chapter  13  he  severely  rebukes 
them. 

I  have  little  to  say  of  the  three  friends,  nor  of  their 
many  true  and  interesting  sayings.  To  review  these 
would  involve  more  detail  than  is  here  necessary.  The 
friends  seem  to  represent  our  dear  old  acquaintances 
Tradition,  Dogma  and  Doctrine. 

Job's  opening  words  to  these  three  men  were  to  la- 
ment the  day  of  his  birth,  to  deplore  his  condition,  to 
wonder  why  he  was  given  life,  and  to  give  expression 
to  fear,  which  is  the  opposite  of  trust  in  God ! 

"Wherefore  is  light  given  to  him  that  is  in  misery, 
and  life  unto  the  bitter  in  soul ;  which  long  for  death, 
but  it  cometh  not ;  and  dig  for  it  more  than  for  hidden 


*Let  it  not  be  overlooked  that  there  is  no  direct  evidence  of  Job's 
high  character  except  his  own.  When  a  man  is  accused  of  moral  de- 
linquency, he  will  usually  deny  it.  Job's  experienced  friends  did  not 
have  entire  confidence  in  him.  Perhaps  from  knowing  their  own 
weaknesses,  they  distrusted  Job.  "The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all 
things  and  desperately  wicked:  who  can  know  it?"    (Jer.  17:9.) 

And  this  to  all:  "Do  we  not  already  know  more  of  this  heart  than 
we  are  willing  to  have  our  neighbor  see?"  From  my  own  experience 
I  question  Job's  unreserved  candor.'  How  natural  and  human  is  the 
desire  to  appear  to  be  better  than  we  really  are! 


100  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

treasures ;  which  rejoice  exceedingly,  and  are  glad  when 
they  can  find  the  grave?"   (Chap.  3:20-22.) 

"The  thing  which  I  greatly  feared  is  come  unto  me." 
(Chap.  3:25.) 

FEAR. 

Fear  overcame  him ;  fear,  the  opposite  of  faith,  of 
trust;  fear,  the  child  of  evil.  What  is  fear?  Is  it  an  entity 
or  a  ghost?  Is  it  an  emotion,  and  if  so,  how  can  we  over- 
come it?  How  but  by  faith  and  trust  in  God?  Paul  writes, 
"Perfect  love  casteth  out  fear."  In  other  words,  only 
by  perfect  obedience  to  what  the  Saviour  declared  to  be 
the  first  and  great  commandment  can  man  overcome  this 
tool  of  the  devil — fear.  Fear  leads  to  supineness  and  dis- 
couragement, two  other  influences  of  the  devil. 

Continuing  Job  said,  "I  was  not  in  safety,  neither 
had  I  rest,  neither  was  I  quiet ;  yet  trouble  came."  Does 
not  chastening  and  purifying  discipline  often  follow  (even 
in  our  day)  just  such  condition  of  mind? 

Then  begins  the  discussion  between  Job  on  the  one 
side,  and  Eliphaz,  Bildad  and  Zophar  on  the  other.* 
They  proceed  gently  at  first,  and  attempt  to  show  that 
Job's  suffering  is  a  proof  of  his  wickedness.  This  Job 
denies,  and  each  of  the  three  friends  reaffirm,  with  the 
result  that  mild  differing  opinions  are  succeeded  by  angry 
controversy.  This  takes  up  most  of  the  book,  continuing 
to  the  thirty-second  chapter.  The  friends  argue  and  rea- 
son with  Job,  and  are,  of  course,  actuated  by  kind  mo- 


*It  may  be  useful*  to  give  here  the  meanings  of  the  names  of  the 
five   principal   characters: 

Job;  The  much  afflicted. 
Eliphaz ;   God  of"  gold  :  Riches. 
Bildad;  Son  of  contention;  contender. 
Zophar;    chatterer. 
Elihu ;  whose  God  is  He. 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  101 

tives.  'Nevertheless,  their  individual  or  combined  elo- 
quence is  powerless  to  convince  Job,  or  to  satisfy  his 
desire  for  a  better  knowledge  of  God  and  his  dealings 
with  men.  Their  failure  is  total  and  unmistakeable.  This 
Job  points  out  in  his  closing  speech,  which  begins  with 
Chapter  twenty-six,  and  is  unequalled  by  anything  that 
preceded  it  in  the  controversy.  "So  these  three  men 
ceased  to  answer  Job,  because  he  was  righteous  in  his 
own  eyes." 

Were  they  not  under  the  same  condition  of  self- 
righteousness  as  that  with  which  they  charged  their 
friend?  Read  what  Paul  says  to  just  such  men: 

"Th©u  art  inexcusable,  O  man,  whosoever  thou  art 
that  judgest;  for  wherein  thou  judgest  another,  thou  con- 
demnest  thyself;  for  thou  that  judgest  doest  the  same 
things."     (Rom.  2:1.) 

True,  in  Job's  time,  in  the  days  of  Paul,  and  equally 
so  in  the  present  age,  Tradition,  Dogma  and  Doctrine, 
full  of  self-righteousness,  feel  themselves  called  upon  to 
criticise  and  condemn  that  which  is  an  advance  over  their 
dogmatic  opinions. 

Many  wise  and  true  maxims  and  sayings  are  pro- 
nounced by  the  three  friends,  yet  certainly  not  surpassing 
and  perhaps  not  equalling  those  of  the  greater  man  whom 
they  sought  to  discipline.  To  all  appearance,  Job  is,  so 
far,  master  of  the  situation. 

The  closing  words  of  Job  form  the  climactic  speech 
of  the  whole  controversy.  It  is  the  very  embodiment 
of  reasoning  power  and  a  grand  lesson  in  eloquence,  to 
the  young  man  who  would  aspire  to  be  an  orator.  It 
begins  with  the  26th  and  ends  with  31st  chapter,  and  is 
full  of  useful  and  instructive  texts.  In  chapter  29  Job 
regretfully  and  longingly  reviews  his  past,  when  he  was 
"the  greatest  of  all  the  men  of  the  east",  and  in  mem- 


102  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

ory  glorifies  himself  without  measure,  "I  put  on  the 
robes  of  righteousness  and  judgment."  (Chap.  29:14.) 

The  next  chapter  contrasts  his  present  with  his 
former  condition.  Formerly  he  despised  those  whom  he 
thought  beneath  him  in  the  social  scale,  while  now  con- 
ditions are  reversed.  Even  the  children  of  those  he  dis- 
dained "spared  not  to  spit  in  his  face" !  And  all  this, 
mistaken  Job  charges  to  God ! 

Read  again  this  30th  chapter  and  you  can  see  from 
it  Job's  conception  of  God  and  his  attitude  toward  Him ; 
in  awe  of  his  power,  but  distrusting  his  justice  or  wis- 
dom; uncertain  and  unsatisfied — yet  with  a  desire  for 
improvement.  This  fervent  desire  is  the  "blade"  from 
which  follows  "the  ear,  after  that  the  full  corn  in  the 
ear."  It  is  the  "grain  of  mustard  seed".  Right  desire, 
is  man's  first  prayer,  and  its  earnestness  is  brought  out 
as  he  realizes  his  need. 

CHAPTER  II. 

Elihu,  the  Forerunner. 

We  turn  a  leaf  and  a  new  character  enters  the  scene. 
This  is  Elihu,  a  young  man  who  had  been  an  interested 
listener  to  the  discussion  between  Job  and  the  three 
older  men,  but  too  modest  to  speak  until  they  had  fin- 
ished. This  sentiment  Elihu  carefully,  and  in  a  very 
modest  manner,  first  explains  to  his  listeners,  and  then 
grows  more  firm  as  he  proceeds  with  his  words  which 
finally  embody  one  of  the  grandest  and  most  instructive 
speeches  that  ever  has  been  heard  or  written  in  any 
age.  The  thirty-second  chapter  of  the  book  consists  of 
the  prelude  to  th*s  speech. 

What  a  contrast  when  this  young  man  (perhaps  a 
beardless   boy),   assumed   to   speak   in   the   presence   of 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  103 

the  four  mature  and  experienced  men  who  had  preceded 
him,  and  to  express  thoughts  which  were  so  entirely  at 
variance  with  their  settled  opinions ;  thoughts  which 
were  new  to  them  and  which  they  were  unable  to  com- 
prehend !  No  wonder  indeed — "They  were  amazed,  they 
answered  no  more:  they  left  off  speaking;  they  stood 
still  and  answered  no  more."    (Chap.  32,  vs.  15-16.) 

And  why?  Or  rather,  indeed,  when  the  situation  is 
really  understood,  how  could  it  have  been  otherwise? 
There  must  have  been  a  lifting  up  of  gray  heads  and 
whitened  beards,  a  wrinkling  of  aged  foreheads  and  a 
wide  opening  of  dim,  but  inquiring  eyes,  which  were 
aimed  severely  at  the  "boy",  as  they  undoubtedly  re- 
garded him.  They  could  not  at  first,  comprehend  that 
they  themselves  were  "in  the  oldness  of  the  letter", 
while  the  younger  man  was  "in  newness  of  spirit". 
(Rom.  7:6.)  But  this  they  were  ultimately  made  to  un- 
derstand. 

From  beginning  to  end  the  speech  of  Elihu  is  an 
exemplification  of  that  true  Spiritual  discernment  which 
is  called  inspiration.  This  he  realizes  and  announces 
when  he  says  at  the  eighth  verse  of  chapter  thirty-two: 
"There  is  a  spirit  in  man :  and  the  inspiration  of  the  Al- 
mighty giveth  them  understanding.  Great  men  are  not 
always  wise;  neither  do  the  aged  understand  judgment." 

Does  not  this  clearly  mean  that  neither  natural  tal- 
ent, education  nor  experience  bring  to  men  real  capacity 
to  discern  correctly?  Such  knowledge  is  "hidden  from 
the  wise  and  prudent  and  revealed  unto  babes." 

Of  this  Jesus  said,  "Even  so,  Father;  for  so  it  seemed 
good  in  Thy  sight  .  .  .  No  man  knoweth  .  .  . 
the  Father,  save  the  Son  (Christ),  and  he  to  whomso- 
ever the  Son  (the  ever  present  Christ)  will  reveal  Him." 
The  Master's  disciples  were  not  chosen  from  the  (human- 


104  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

ly)  "wise  and  prudent".  But  he  "opened  the  under- 
standing" of  the  plain  and  simple-minded  fishermen, 
while  to  the  "wise  and  prudent"  the  revelation  of  spirit- 
ual understanding  remained  hid. 

So  was  it  to  Job  and  the  friends,  for  they  reasoned 
and  argued  chiefly,  if  not  entirely,  from  the  human 
standpoint,  without  realizing  that  reason  alone,  cannot 
give  true  wisdom.  The  friends  thought  themselves  col- 
lectively and  individually  to  be  comprehensive  teachers, 
while  Job  believed  himself  to  be  the  superior  of  them  all. 
And  at  last  what  gained  they  as  a  result  of  their  long 
controversy?  This  only,  that  "The  words  of  Job  are 
ended,"  and  "these  three  men  ceased  to  answer."  All  sat 
silent.  Reason  had  tired  itself,  as  it  has  alway  done 
and  always  will  do,  in  such  disputations,  because  it  is 
based  only  on  human  opinions,  which  are  subject  to 
change  and  are  therefore  unreliable.  Human  reason, 
which  prides  itself  today  on  its  literary  perception  and 
intelligent  understanding,  is  incapable  of  comprehend- 
ing that  which  is  given  to  man  through  revelation.  The 
Bible  is  the  one  grand  exemplification  of  this  fact.  In 
both  the  old  and  new  testaments  the  preponderance  of 
revelation  over  reason  is  repeatedly  affirmed  and  made 
clear.  The  Master  illustrated  and  taught  it.  Peter, 
John  and  Paul  built  upon  this  rock  of  spiritual  under- 
standing. True  in  their  day;  true  in  the  days  of  Job; 
eternally  true.  In  the  present  age  Spiritual  Truth  is 
again  asserting  and  proving  its  power,  while  earthly 
reasoners,  like  Job's  three  friends,  are  "amazed"  and 
"stand  in  awe"  of  clearer  light ! 

So  Job's  condition  of  suffering  continued.  He  was 
not  relieved  either  of  his  physical  suffering,  or  of  his 
mental  anguish,  by  the  intended  and  well  meant  kind- 
ness of  his  friends,  neither  is  there  anything,  so  far,  to 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  105 

indicate  that  his  understanding  of  God's  dealings  with 
men,  which  he  so  much  wished  for,  had  made  any  pro- 
gress. He  remained  in  hopeless  despondency  and  utter 
despair. 

But  "man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity."  A 
brighter  day  was  soon  to  dawn  on  this  example  of  suffer- 
ing mortality.  Unto  Job,  this  "young  man"  was  as  the 
morning  star  which  portends  the  coming  light  of  better 
understanding,  the  illumination  of  human  consciousness. 

Elihu  has  been  referred  to  as  a  forerunner.  Such  he 
was  to  Job  certainly,  and  to  the  friends  possibly,  even 
as  John  the  Baptist  was  witness  to  the  coming  of  the 
Christ  in  the  person  of  Jesus.  Of  John,  the  Master  said : 
"This  is  he  of  whom  it  is  written,  Behold  I  send  my  mes- 
senger before  thy  face,  which  shall  prepare  thy  way 
before  thee."  And  more  He  said.  (See  Matt.  11:7-15, 
also  Is.  40:3.) 

So  came  Elihu  to  Job.  The  parallel  is  complete. 
Both  these  forerunners  spake  from  and  through  spiritual 
understanding.  How  could  it  be  otherwise?  Both  were 
in  the  human  sense,  unlearned  and  inexperienced,  but 
both  brought  "knowledge  from  afar" — Aye!  from  the 
boundless  and  soundless  Sea  of  Spirituality! 

Man  in  his  earthly  condition,  has  distinctly  within 
himself  a  material,  and  a  spiritual  element,  which  are 
manifestly  opposed  to  each  other.  Paul  says,  "For  the 
flesh  lusteth  against  the  Spirit,  and  the  Spirit  against  the 
flesh :  and  these  are  contrary  the  one  to  the  other."  And 
this  opposition  will  continue  until  the  former  yields  to 
the  latter.  It  is  a  warfare  between  good  and  evil.  Evil 
will  fight  in  darkness,  from  behind  trees  and  rocks,  and 
will  use  whatever  weapons  it  can  find.  Evil  is  the  "carnal 
mind"  which  is  "enmity  against  God,  for  it  is  not  subject 
to  the  law  of  God.  neither  indeed  can  be."  (Rom.  8:7.) 


106  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

In  the  concluding  pages  of  this  book  something  more 
will  appear  on  the  subject  of  these  opposing  elements 
that  struggle  within  man  for  control. 

But  let  us  give  a  little  more  attention  to  what  is  de- 
clared by  this  younger  man,  who  speaks  first  to  the 
friends  and  says  of  Job,  "Now  he  hath  not  directed  his 
words  against  me;  neither  will  I  answer  him  with  your 
speeches"    (reasoning).* 

The  plain  meaning  of  this  beginning  is  that  the  knowl- 
edge, through  and  by  which  Elihu  would  speak,  did  not 
come  from  any  earthly  school  of  instruction,  neither 
from  human  experience,  for  he  was  young  and  his  oppor- 
tunities of  this  kind  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  his  lis- 
teners. And  yet  he  was  able  to  speak  with  an  under- 
standing so  far  in  advance  of  theirs,  that  they  made  no 
attempt  to  reply  but  were  "amazed". 

Their  conception  was  of  the  immense  distance  be- 
tween God  and  man,  while  the  speech  of  Elihu  is  closely 
in  harmony  with  the  saying  "The  kingdom  of  Heaven 
is  at  hand." 

Let  us  for  a  while  follow  the  speech  as  to  its  meaning, 
not  fully  by  the  letter,  but  by  prominent  and  suggestive 
points. 

"I  am  full;  the  Spirit  within  me  constraineth  me,  I 
am  ready  to  burst  as  wine  in  bottles,  I  will  speak,  that 
I  may  be  refreshed,  I  will  open  my  lips,  let  me  not  ac- 
cept any  man's  person.  I  know  not  to  give  flattering 
titles ;  in  so  doing  my  maker  would  soon  take  me  away." 

"Wherefore  Job  hearken.  My  tongue  hath  spoken; 
my  lips  shall  ut'ter  knowledge  clearly.    The  Spirit  of  God 


•Confucius  was  one  of  the  greatest  reasoners  of  whom  we  have 
any  account,  but  what  has  the  "Wisdom  of  Confucius"  done  for  the 
Chinese  people?  This:  It  has  made  them  worshipers  of  reasoning  ideas 
represented  by  idols;  manlike  gods. 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  107 

hath  made  me.  Behold  I  am  in  God's  stead.  I  also  am 
formed  of  clay."  (A  Spiritually-inspired  man.)  Lips; 
Tongue; — Not  Brain! 

"Behold,  I  shall  not  make  thee  afraid,  nor  shall  my 
hand  be  heavy  upon  thee."     (Kindness  with  firmness.) 

"I  have  heard  thy  words  saying,  I  am  clean  without 
transgression,  I  am  innocent;  neither  is  there  iniquity  in 
me.  Behold,  He  (God)  findeth  occasions  against  me; 
He  counteth  me  for  his  enemy;  He  putteth  my  feet  in 
the  stocks;  He  marks  all  my  paths." 

"Behold,  in  this  thou  art  not  just;  I  will  answer  thee. 
God  is  greater  than  man.  Why  dost  thou  strive  against 
Him?"  (John  6:63.) 

"God  speaketh  once,  yea  twice,  yet  man  perceiveth 
it  not.  In  a  vision  of  the  night,  then  He  openeth  the  ears 
of  men,  that  he  may  withdraw  man  from  his  (mistaken) 
purpose,  He  keepeth  back  his  soul  from  the  pit  and  his 
life  from  perishing,  he  is  chastened  also  with  pain,  so  that 
his  life  abhorreth  bread,  his  flesh  is  consumed  away,  and 
his  bones  stick  out. 

"Yea,  his  soul  draweth  near  unto  the  grave,  his  life 
to  the  destroyers. 

"If  there  be  a  messenger  with  him,  an  interpreter,  to 
show  unto  man  his  uprightness  (his  inner  self),  then  He 
is  gracious  unto  him  and  saith,  'Deliver  him  from  going 
down  to  the  pit;  I  have  found  a  ransom'  (See  Psalm 
37:6). 

"His  flesh  shall  be  fresher  than  a  child's;  he  shall  re- 
turn to  the  days  of  his  youth,  he  shall  pray  unto  God,  he 
shall  see  His  face  (spiritually)  with  joy. 

"He  looketh  upon  men,  and  if  any  say  'I  have  sinned, 
and  perverted  that  which  was  right  and  it  profited  me 
not,'  He  will  deliver  his  soul  from  going  into  the  pit,  he 
shall  see  light. 


108  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

"Lo,  all  these  things  worketh   God  oftentimes   with 

man. 

"Mark  well,  O  Job,  hearken  unto  me;  hold  thy  peace; 
I  will  speak.  If  thou  hast  anything  to  say,  speak,  for  I 
desire  to  justify  thee.  If  not,  hold  thy  peace.  I  shall 
teach  thee." 

Let  the  reader  now  turn  to  the  thirty-fourth  chapter 
and  he  will  find  it  addressed  almost  entirely  to  the  three 
friends  whom  Elihu  characterizes  as  "ye  wise  men;  ye 
men  of  understanding" ;  and  to  them  he  speaks  with  the 
same  authority  (spiritual,  inspired  from  above),  with 
which  he  had  spoken  to  Job.  Turning  again  to  the  lat- 
ter, he  says  (Chap.  35)  : 

"Thinkest  thou  this  to  be  right  that  thou  saidst  'My 
righteousness  is  more  than  God's?' 

"For  thou  saidst,  'What  profit  shall  I  have  if  I  be 

cleansed  from  my  sin?' 

"I  will  answer  thee  and  thy  companions  with  thee. 
Look  to  the  heavens,  and  see;  and  behold  the  clouds 
which  are  higher  than  thou.  If  thou  sinnest,  what  doest 
thou  against  Him  ?  If  thou  be  righteous,  what  givest  thou 
Him? 

"But  none  saith,  'Where  is  God  my  maker,  who 
teachest  us  more  than  the  beasts  and  makest  us  wiser 
than  the  birds?'"  And  so,  pretentious  and  presump- 
tuous men,  depending  more  on  human  reasoning  than  on 
spiritual  understanding,  more  on  the  erring  and  false 
than  on  the  unerring  and  true ;  more  on  knowledge  than 
on  wisdom,  are  led  into  concepts,  opinions  and  beliefs 
that  involve  us 'in  mistakes.* 


•"Solomon   Wiseman    attended   Earth's  college- 
Read  all  the  books  on  the  shelves  of  knowledge, 
Took  'first  honors'  in  the  study  of  knowledge, 
Clothed  himself  with  the  garment  of  knowledge, 
Constructed  a  home  in  the  grove  of  knowledge, 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  109 

"Surely,  God  will  not  hear  vanity.  Although  thou 
sayest  thou  shalt  not  see  him,  yet  judgment  is  before  him, 
therefore  trust  thou  in  Him.  Job  doth  open  his  mouth 
in  vain — words  without  knowledge." 

In  chapter  thirty-six  and  thirty-seven,  Elihu 
with  "knowledge  from  afar"  (inspiration)  gives  grand 
descriptions  of  the  allness  and  the  absolute  oneness  of 
the  Divine  Power  which  we  call  God. 

"Magnify  thou  His  work,  which  men  behold.  Every 
man  may  see  it ;  man  may  behold  it  afar  off.  Touching 
the  Almighty,  we  cannot  find  Him  out;  He  is  excellent 
in  power,  and  in  judgment,  and  in  plenty  of  justice; 
He  will  not  afflict." 

These  are  the  concluding  words  of  this  ancient  fore- 
runner. He  has  indeed  prepared  the  way,  not  through 
the  skillful  deductions  of  learned  and  experienced  men — 
"the  wise  and  prudent" ;  not  by  or  through  the  channel 
of  human  thought,  which,  while  serviceable  to  man  in  so 
many  ways,  is  always  liable  to  veer  as  it  encounters  ob- 
stacles in  its  path ;  but  through  inspiration,  which  comes 
from  a  source  indescribably  higher  than  human  reason, 
and  gives  understanding  in  place  of  varying  opinions. 

By  their  silence,  the  three  friends  manifestly  acknowl- 
edged the  superiority  of  Elihu,  even  though  he  so  dis- 
tinctly disagreed  with  them.  Neither  of  them  attempted 
to  make  any  reply.  So  also  did  Job  recognize  this  younger 
man  as  one  who  spoke  from  knowledge  higher  than  his 
own.     He  was   ready  to  dispute  and   wrangle  with   the 


His  bread  was  baked  in  the  ovens  of  knowledge, 
His  pleasures  were  sought  in  the  harem  of  knowledge, 
He  builded  a  house  to  the  glory  of  knowledge, 
And  exalted   himself,   in   this  temple  of  knowledge, 
Forgot  the  True  God  in  the  worship  of  knowledge, 
Found  'no  new  thing*  as  result  of  Earth's  knowledge, 
Called  it  all  'vanity' — and  sought  Truth's  college!" 

(Read    2nd    chapter    of    Ecclesiastes) 


110  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

friends,  but  received  the  affirmations  of  Elihu  as  some- 
thing that  could  not  be  controverted  or  impugned,  be- 
cause of  his  recognized  spiritual  authority.  Nor  is  there 
any  word  of  resentment  from  either  Job  or  his  friends 
when  their  errors  are  pointed  out  to  them.  Bewildered 
amazement  changes  to  an  acknowledgement  of  the  su- 
periority of  revelation. 

Is  it  too  much  to  say  that  this  spiritually  instructed 
messenger  was  the  precursor  of  the  evercoming  Christ, 
who  was  before  Abraham,  and  is  with  man  always? 
Here  was  the  beginning  of  dawn  in  Job's  understanding, 
to  be  followed  by  light,  before  unseen  and  unknown,  but 
vaguely  heard  of. 

Of  John  the  Baptist  the  Master  said  that  "none  great- 
er was  born  of  woman".  There  is  nothing  to  indicate 
education  or  experience  in  his  case  (he  was  about  the 
age  of  Jesus),  therefore  this  immortal  testimony  makes 
it  clear  that  John's  greatness  was  through  the  possession 
of  spritual  intuition,  so  far  above  human  knowledge. 
Paul  says,  "The  wisdom  of  this  world  is  foolishness  with 
God."  "The  thoughts  of  the  wise  are  vain."  Isaiah 
says,  "Cease  ye  from  man,  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils ; 
for  wherein  is  he  to  be  accounted  of?"  Corresponding 
sayings  are  numerous  in  the  books  of  the  Bible.  If  you 
look  for  them,  with  open  eyes,  "you  will  find". 

But  inspiration  speaks  only  truth,  because  it  proceeds 
from  the  great  source  of  all  truth.  In  it  there  is  abso- 
lutely no  element  of  deviation — no  right  hand  or  left,  but 
unconditional  straight-forwardness.  Inspired  truth  comes 
not  from  or  through  mortal  seeing,  or  mortal  hearing,  nor 
from  the  deepest  thinking  of  the  human  mind.  Inspira- 
tion is  sacredly  and  exclusively  spiritual. 

Paul,  in  the  second  chapter  of  First  Corinthians,  de- 
scribes the  working  of  Spirit  in  his  own  consciousness 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  111 

and  the  utter  dissimilarity  and  vast  superiority  of  that 
which  is  revealed,  as  compared  with  that  which  is  dis- 
cerned through  "the  wisdom  of  this  world". 

Carefully  read  and  study  that  chapter.  It  is  in  itself 
a  volume  of  information.  Inspired  ideas  were  evolved 
before  the  days  of  Elihu,  and  by  no  means  ended  with  the 
days  of  Paul.  What,  indeed,  has  revelation  not  done  for 
religion  and  for  mankind!  What  is  it  accomplishing  in 
these  latter  days?  How  can  revelation  be,  except  by  in- 
spiration? When  or  how  did  what  we  consider  inspira- 
tion begin?  Who  can  say  it  is  ended — or  ever  will  end? 
What  evidence  exists  that  it  belongs  to  any  age?  The 
Bible  is  built  on  the  rock  of  inspiration,  "The  Christ" 
(Mat.  16:17). 

A  mortal  man  is  made  up  of  a  physical  body  and  a 
human  intellect,  which-  may  be  compared  to  dust  and 
vapor.*  How  utterly  different  from  spiritual  man,  made 
in  God's  likeness.  Can  dust  and  vapor  (materiality) 
be  the  likeness  of  God  which  is  Spirit?  On  the  contrary, 
is  it  not  the  unlikeness  of  Spirit? 

Inspiration  understands  and  reveals.  It  is  the  eter- 
nal-teacher of  Truth.  It  is  not  the  exclusive  attainment 
of  Rabbi  or  Priest,  Scribe  or  Pharisee. 

Of  the  four  chapters  of  Job,  closing  with  the  37th,  it 
is  plain  that  whoever  reads  them  should  have  uppermost 
in  his  mind  the  deepest  sentiment  of  reverence  and  awe! 
No  one  has  a  full  understanding  of  them,  for  how  can 
any  man  comprehend  the  method  of  God !  We  may,  in- 
deed, "Look  unto  the  heavens  and  see;  and  behold  the 
clouds  which  are  higher  than  thou."  We  may  listen  for 
truth  and  be  benefited  by  what  we  hear.  We  are  influ- 
enced by  good,  but  we  cannot  influence  Good,  for  Good 

•Dust  and  vapor — that  which  crumbles  and  that  which  fades  and 
disappears- 


112  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

is  perfection  absolute;  Good  is  God,  and  "He  giveth  not 
account  of  any  of  his  matters."  Good  alone  understands 
good.  God  alone  understands  God.  Good  is  God,  as  dis- 
tinctly as  God  is  good.  Moreover,  good  exists  every- 
where. Even  in  you,  though  you  do  not  realize  it  (Ps. 
37:6). 

CHAPTER  III. 
"Before  Abraham  was,  I  am." 

From  that  sublime  hour  when  "the  Lord  answered 
Job  out  of  the  whirlwind",  Spiritual  light  became  his 
guiding  star,  rising  and  growing,  brighter;  and  Spiritual 
understanding  a  healing,  an  enlightening  and  an  elevat- 
ing force,  steadily  increasing  in  power.  Then  did  he 
realize  and  say,  "Therefore  have  I  uttered  that  I  under- 
stood not;  things  too  wonderful  for  me,  which  I  knew 
not."  Then  also,  by  divine  appointment,  he  prayed  ef- 
fectually for  his  friends  (Elihu  is  not  mentioned  as  one 
of  them,  however),  and  his  captivity  (to  human  sense) 
was  turned.  (Job  42:10.)  Spiritual  truth  had  overcome 
and  subdued  mistaken  human  pretention. 

All  who  read  the  four  grand  chapters  (38  to  41  in- 
clusive), may  note  that  they  begin  with  references  to  the 
material  creation,  including  the  earth  and  the  stars.  These 
are  followed  by  references  and  comparisons  to  various 
animals,  including  beasts  and  birds.  The  first  fourteen 
verses  of  Chapter  forty  illustrate  man's  incapacity  to 
govern  through  or  by  his  own  human  understanding 
("thine  own  right  hand"),  which,  left  to  itself,  will  do  him 
more  of  harm  'than  good.  Human  self  is  the  "carnal 
mjnd" — the  "man  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils".  It  is 
the  selfish  man,  utterly  and  entirely  apart  from  the  Spir- 
itual or  true  man,  who  is  made  "in  our  image, — after  our 
likeness". 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  113 

"Goer  is  Spirit"  and  therefore  it  remains  that  "his 
likeness"  is  spiritual.  Otherwise  where  is  similarity  or 
resemblance? 

Is  the  fleshy  man  His  image?    NO. 

Is  the  carnal  selfish  mind  His  image?    NO. 

Can  any  person  or  thing  that  is  not  entirely  good  be 
His  likeness?     NO. 

Can  the  material  eye  discern  the  form  of  God?     NO. 

Can  the  human  ear  discern  or  recognize  the  voice  of 
God?    NO. 

Can  the  material  sense  in  any  manner  describe  or 
comprehend  God?     NO. 

How  then  can  this  be  explained  or  understood,  "Then 
the  Lord  answered  Job  out  of  the  whirlwind  and  said"? 
(Chap.  38:1,  40-6.) 

One  may  not  be  able  to  answer  this  last  question 
satisfactorily,  but  most  reverently  I  will  try.  If  the  ef- 
fort is  not  wholly  successful,  perhaps  it  may  lead  to  in- 
duce some  abler  man,  with  greater  resources  than  mine, 
to  bring  out  a  better  explanation  and  to  place  his  words 
in  a  more  comprehensive  frame.  My  conception  is  only 
fallible,  and  may  be  only  one  of  many  opinions,  any  or 
all  of  which  may  be  incorrect  in  part  or  entirely.  But  I 
see  no  interpretation  so  clear  as  this  which  follows. 

It  was  absolutely  a  divine  message  from  God,  the 
ever  present  Good,  coming  into  Job's  awakened  spiritual 
consciousness.  Not  from  or  through  his  human  mentality, 
neither  from  the  reasoning  arguments  of  his  friends ;  not 
from  "taking  thought",  but  by  "taking  no  thought";  not 
by  the  human  ear,  but  solely  and  entirely  through  the 
spiritual  understanding,  which  pertains  to  what  Paul 
calls  the  "inner  man". 

This  "inner  man"  must  grow  and  develop  into  a  con- 
trolling force  and  become  able,  first  to  cope  with,  and 


114  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

then  to  subdue  and  bring  into  willing  obedience  the  hu- 
man mentality  upon  which  mortals  so  much  depend.  This 
is  a  David  and  Goliath  battle,  in  which  the  giant  must  be 
overcome.  Human  mentality  is  as  a  giant,  defying  all, 
and  claiming  strength  and  power  above  all.  But  the  less 
pretentious  "inner  man",  armed  with  faith,  trusting  in 
God  alone,  determined,  tireless  and  deathless,  must  be  the 
victor.  When  or  how  this  victory  will  occur,  "knoweth 
no  man,  not  the  angels  of  heaven,  but  my  Father  only."* 
(Matt.  24:36;  Mark  13:32.) 

Let  us  turn  again  to  Elihu,  whose  opening  words 
filled  his  hearers  with  amazement,  and  his  continued 
speaking  presented  a  gleam  of  ideas  which  before  had 
never  occurred  to  them.  Drawing  his  "knowledge  from 
afar"  he  was  indeed  a  splendid  example  of  spiritual 
power,  compared  to  which  all  other  so-called  power  is  a 
cipher. 

No  thoughtful  man  can  read  the  book  of  Job  without 
clearly  seeing  that  the  instruction  so  evident  in  the  first 
thirty-one  chapters,  even  though  they  contain  so  much 
of  worldly  wisdom,  is  not  to  be  compared  ,with  that  of 
the  eleven  concluding  chapters,  which  embody  an  ac- 
count of  Spiritual  awakening,  and  its  effect  upon  the  man 
who  thereby  is  aroused  to  a  higher  sense  and  understand- 
ing of  life. 

What  a  subject  this  is  for  reflection,  and  how  much 
could  be  written  upon  it !  Through  Spiritual  discern- 
ment alone  can  we  know  the  Truth.  But,  see  it  we  must, 
for  the  Master  said,  "Ye  shall  know  the  truth,  and  the 
truth  shall  make  you  free."  So  came  the  ever-existent 
and  ever-coming  Christ  to  Job,  even  as  it  comes  to  all 

•"The  wind  btoweth  where  it  listeth,  and  thou  hearest  the  sound 
thereof,  but  canst  not  tell  whence  it  cometh,  and  whither  it  goeth: 
so  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit." — (John,  3:8.) 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  115 

who  earnestly  seek  for   it— but  "Elias  truly  shall   first 
come  and  restore  all  things".     (Matt.,  17:11-13.) 

All  Christians  acknowledge  John  the  Baptist  as  the 
forerunner  of  the  appearance  of  Christ  (the  Christ)  to 
the  world  in  the  person  of  Jesus.  He  came  as  a  plain, 
lowly  but  sincere  and  earnest  worker  "crying  in  the  wil- 
derness". In  like  manner  came  the  young  man,  Elihu, 
to  Job,  as  one  who  awakens  a  sleeper ;  crying  in  the  wil- 
.  derness  of  human  mistakes. 

At  the  concluding  part  of  Elihu's  speech  are  refer- 
ences and  comparisons  to  the  sky,  the  clouds,  the  weather, 
the  thunders  and  lightnings  (see  Chap.  37  entire),  and 
these  are  noticeable  as  preliminary  to  the  "voice  out  of 
the  whirlwind".  Certainly  Job  had  passed  through  a 
storm  of  experience,  in  his  early  prosperity,  followed 
closely  by  adversity,  sorrow,  suffering,  discouragement 
on  the  part  of  his  wife  and  unsatisfactory  disputes  with 
his  kindly  but  mistaken  friends,  who  were  his  neighbors 
and  companions. 

Now  Elihu  (unpretentious  as  to  age,  experience  or 
worldly  wisdom),  comes  with  an  awakening  speech  based 
not  on  human  reasoning  (which  is  liable  to  mistaken 
conceptions  and  conclusions),  but  on  Spiritual  under- 
standing, which  is  true  knowledge — such  as  was  given  to 
John  the  Baptist  when  he  proclaimed,  "the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  at  hand".  And  this  quickening  sermon  is  at 
the  height  of  the  storm,  culminating  in  the  voice  "out 
of  the  whirlwind",  which  came,  bringing  light  to  Job,  even 
as  the  voice  of  Christianity  came  to  the  world  when  the 
Christ  appeared  in  the  person  of  the  man  Jesus,  bringing 
light  to  the  world. 

John  the  Baptist  "was  not  that  light,  but  was  sent  to 
bear  witness  of  that  Light.  That  was  the  true  Light, 
which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world." 
(John,  1  :8-9.) 


116  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

Nevertheless,  the  teachings  of  the  forerunner  were  in 
perfect  accord  with  those  of  him  whom  he  came  to  wit- 
ness. So  also  the  teachings  of  Elihu  were  in  harmony 
with  the  illuminating  instruction  of  the  "Voice". 

Elihu  had  heard  the  commanding  voice,  and  realized 
that  obedience  was  imperative  (Job,  32:22),  and  his  mes- 
sage to  Job  is  for  all  readers  of  the  Bible.  His  work  was 
blessed  in  its  effect  upon  Job,  and  its  further  influence 
on  his  three  kind  but  mistaken  friends.  And,  if  we  of 
today,  are  really  "seeking"  (as  commanded  by  the  Mas- 
ter) we  also  can  be  benefited  by  the  awakening  words 
of  this  ancient  forerunner. 

How  different,  this  blessed  obedience  of  Elihu,  from 
the  disobedience  of  "the  prophet  Jonah",  whose  endeav- 
ors to  escape  from  duty  plunged  him  into  a  stormy  sea 
of  indescribable  difficulties  and  troubles.  (Jonah,  Chap- 
ters 1  and  2.) 

This  is  indeed  the  ever-speaking  voice  of  God,  "yet 
man  perceiveth  it  not".  That  is,  the  reasoning  man  of 
the  world,  whose  eyes  are  blinded  and  whose  ears  are 
stopped  by  the  over-shadowing  cares,  joys,  sorrows, 
pleasures,  sufferings  and  innumerable  incidents  of  this 
present  existence,  is  hindered  from  perceiving.* 

Not  so  with  the  spiritual  man,  whose  senses 
are  not  limited  by  or  to,  earthly  experiences; 
for  only  through  spiritual  enlightenment  do  we, 
or  indeed  can  we,  discern  the  Truth  of  divine 
influence.  Elihu,  guided  by  Spiritual  understand- 
ing, was  far  more  in  harmony  with  that  voice  put  of 
the  whirlwind,  than  with  the  reasoning  of  the  friends,  or 
Job's  replies  to  the  friends.  What  wonder  that  they 
were  amazed !  What  wonder  that  the  doctors,  when  they 

*The  master  said:  "The  prince  of  this  world  cometh,  and  hath 
nothing  in  me."    This  refers  to  human  reasoning,  man's  "right  hand". 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  117 

heard  the  words  of  the  youthful  Jesus,  "were  astonished 
at  his  understanding  and  answers".  So  also  were  his 
parents  amazed  when  they  found  him  hearing  and  ques- 
tioning the  humanly  wise  theologians  of  his  day.  Yet 
his  parents  understood  not.  And  why?  Because  of  lack 
of  ability  for  spiritual  discernment,  for  in  this  they  were 
on  the  same  level  with  the  learned  elders  and  doctors. 
(See  Luke,  2:46-50.) 

Even  the  disciples,  who  were  with  the  Master,  were 
unable  to  fully  comprehend  his  words.  Peter,  the  most 
assertive  and  therefore  apparently  the  strongest  minded 
of  them,  seemed  to  have  the  largest  share  of  trouble, 
while  the  meek  and  quiet  John,  through  higher  spiritual 
insight,  was  far  better  able  to  understand  him.  Between 
these  two  stood  questioning  Philip  and  doubting  Thomas. 
Luke  (not  one  of  the  twelve)  appears  to  be  the  most  care- 
ful and  painstaking.  Afterward  came  Paul ;  a  tower  of 
mentality,  but,  until  his  marvellous  conversion,  unable 
in  the  least  to  understand  the  grand  truths  of  Christ 
Jesus'  teaching.  Then,  however,  there  were  given  to  him 
revelations,  which  were  and  are  beyond  the  capacity  of 
mortals  to  measure.  No  Christian  questions  the  validity 
of  those  revelations  to  Paul — "Paul  an  apostle  of  Jesus 
Christ  by  the  will  of  God by  the  com- 
mandment of  God". 

If,  in  this  age,  there  be  those  who  deny  inspired  revela- 
tion since  the  days  of  John  and  Paul,  there  are  many 
who  will  not  and  cannot  agree  with  them.  There  are  evi- 
dences of  revelation  in  every  age,  and  none  so  tremendous 
as  that  which  though  so  long  obscured  from  man  by 
shadowy  clouds,  is  again  visible  through  spiritual  under- 
standing— like  as  a  snow-crowned  mountain  in  the  heav- 
ens!  Look  in  the  right  direction,  "seek,  and  ye  shall 
find".     "Watch";   for   the   winds   of  truth   are   blowing 


118  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

away  the  clouds  of  human  mistaken  concepts.  Truth, 
which  alone  commands  the  wind,  is  being  revealed  (to 
spiritual  eyes)  even  now.  Truth  is  the  one  All-power 
which  regenerates  the  universe. 

"Ye  shall  know  the  truth,  and  the  Truth  shall  make 
you  free." 

The  thirty-eighth  and  thirty-ninth  chapters  brought 
to  Job  and  his  bewildered  friends  teachings  of  the  entire 
insufficiency  and  inability  of  the  human  mind  to  compre- 
hend or,  except  in  a  very  limited  sense,  understand  even 
the  things  which  are  all  around  us.  Many  questions  are 
asked,  not  one  of  which  can  be  fully  answered  or  ex- 
plained through  man's  reasoning.  The  plain  lesson  is 
the  inadequacy  of  man's  philosophy,  and  the  limitless 
power  and  wisdom  of  God.  Human  reason  is  as  incap- 
able of  comprehending  God,  as  the  human  eye  is  of  be- 
holding Him.  "The  wisdom  of  this  world  is  foolishness 
with  God." 

This  is  even  more  forcibly  brought  out  in  the  first 
fourteen  verses  of  the  fortieth  chapter.  Job's  Spiritual 
self,  is  just  beginning  to  awaken,  and  he  takes  his  first 
step  in  the  right  direction.  "I  will  lay  mine  hand  upon 
my  mouth."  That  is,  he  silences  his  reasoning  and  turns 
entirely  to  spiritual  guidance  and  strength.  The  Voice, 
with  a  few  more  words,  reveals  to  him  more  fully  man's 
utter  inability,  in  and  of  himself,  "thine  own  right  hand" 
(that  is  by  his  own  human  wisdom),  to  save  or  protect 

either    his    body    or    his    mind.     "God is 

mighty  in  strength  and  wisdom."  (Job,  36 :5.)  "The  wis- 
dom of  this  world  (man's  right  hand)  is  foolishness  with 
God."  (1  Cor.,  3:19.)  And  Jesus  referred  to  human  fore- 
sight, and  human  strength  and  cunning,  when  he  said : 
"Pluck  it  out,  and  cast  it  from  thee,"  and  "Cut  it  off,  and 
cast  it  from  ttfee."  (Mat.  5:29-30.)  Human  thought 
plainly  cometh  of  evil.  (Mat.,  5  :37.) 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  119 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Behemoth  and  Leviathan. 

With  the  fifteenth  verse  of  this  (40th)  chapter  begins 
a  description  that  surpasses  anything  that  has  preceded 
it,  even  as  the  human  is  above  the  animal.  It  is  an  alle- 
gorical representation  of  that  intelligence  which  we  call 
the  human  mind,  and  here  figuratively  referred  to  as  an 
animal,  though  possessing  qualities  which  are  unthink- 
able as  pertaining  to  any  beast.  The  name  'given  to  this 
marvellous  nondescript  is  Behemoth.  This  name  oc- 
curs nowhere  else  in  the  Bible  but  in  the  book  of  Job, 
and  here  only  once.  Regarding  it,  learned  men  have 
given  much  time  to  discovering  exactly  what  animal  (?) 
was  the  one  referred  to.  Let  us  look  into  this  matter  a 
little  and  see  what  results  they  have  accomplished. 

The  most  careful  literary  interpretation  I  have  found 
says,  "The  term  Behemoth,  taken  intensively,  may  be  as- 
sumed to  be  a  poetical  personification  of  the  great  Pachy- 
dermata,  or  even  Herbivora,  wherein  the  idea  of  hippo- 
potamus is  predominant." 

But,  getting  a  little  more  plain,  Webster  defines  Behe- 
moth as  "an  animal,  probably  the  hippopotamus",  and 
Leviathan  as  "an  aquatic  animal,  probably  a  crocodile." 
Old  Bible  dictionaries  and  commentaries  give  correspond- 
ing definitions;  and  it  would  seem  that  they  are  com- 
monly accepted,  today,  alike  by  scholars,  professors  and 
the  clergy,  and  of  course  by  laymen  at  large.  Some  He- 
brew writers  speak  of  Behemoth  as  the  largest  land  ani- 
mal, and  Leviathan  as  the  largest  sea  animal  (somewhat 
indefinite).  Elephants  and  whales  are  likewise  given  re- 
spectful consideration.  Average  people  think  little  or 
nothing  concerning  the  subject. 

The  "Encyclopaedia  of  Religious  Knowledge"  is  au- 


120  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

thority  for  the  opinion  that  the  hippopotamus  was  the 
animal  spoken  of  as  Behemoth,  in  the  book  of  Job ;  and 
further,  that  Behemoth  and  Leviathan  "evidently  appear 
to  be  presented  as  companions ;  to  be  reserved  as  fellows 
and  associates."* 

It  further  states : 

"Aristotle  represents  the  hippopotamus  to  be  of  the 
size  of  an  ass ;  Herodotus  affirms  that  in  stature  he  is 
equal  to  the  largest  ox;  Diodorus  makes  his  height  not 
less  than  five  cubits,  or  about  seven  feet  and  a  half;  and 
Tatius  calls  him,  on  account  of  his  prodigious  strength, 
the  Egyptian  elephant." 

And  again  : 

"Nor  is  he  less  remarkable  for  his  sagacity;  of  which 
two  instances  are  recorded  by  Pliny  and  Solinus.  After 
he  has  gorged  himself  with  corn,  and  begins  to  return 
with  a  distended  belly  to  the  deep,  with  averted  steps 
he  traces  a  great  many  paths,  lest  his  pursuers,  following 
the  lines  of  one  plain  track,  should  overtake  and  destroy 
him  while  he  is  unable  to  resist.  The  second  instance  is 
not  less  remarkable.  When  he  has  become  fat  with  too 
much  indulgence,  he  reduces  his  obesity  by  copious 
bleedings.  For  this  purpose  he  searches  for  newly-cut 
reeds,  or  sharp-pointed  rocks,  and  rubs  himself  against 
them  until  he  makes  a  sufficient  aperture  for  the  blood  to 
flow.  To  promote  the  discharge,  it  is  said,  he  agitates 
his  body;  and  when  he  thinks  (?)  he  has  lost  a  sufficient 


•Whoever  wrote  this  sentiment  may  have  been  nearer  correct  than 
men  are  aware  of.  Materially,  no.  Figuratively,  yes.  There  is  little 
in  common  between  the  hippopotamus  and  the  crocodile.  Fear  and 
.voracity  will  hardly  promote  companionship.  Only  figuratively  can 
they  be  reserved  as  "fellows  and  associates".  Then  it  may  be  under- 
stood as  human  intelligence,  so  prone  toward  companionship  with  un- 
godliness. Evil  (the  devil)  continually  seeks  companionship  with  the 
human  mind  and  too  often,  his  seductive  approaches  are  entertained. 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  121 

quantity,  he  closes  the  wound  by  rolling  himself  in  the 
mud."    O  ye  doctors ! 

Of  the  Leviathan  it  states : 

"The  old  commentators  concurred  in  regarding  the 
whale  as  the  animal  here  intended.  Beza  and  Diodati 
were  among  the  first  to  interpret  it  the  crocodile;  and 
Bochart  has  since  supported  this  last  rendering  with  a 
train  of  argument  (?)  which  has  nearly  overwhelmed  all 
opposition,  and  brought  almost  every  other  commentator 
over  to  his  opinion.  It  is  very  certain  that  it  could  not 
be  the  whale,  which  does  not  inhabit  the  Mediterranean, 
much  less  the  rivers  that  empty  themselves  into  it;  nor 
will  the  characteristics  at  all  apply  to  the  whale.  The 
crocodile,  on  the  contrary,  is  a  natural  inhabitant  of  the 
Nile,  and  other  Asiatic  and  African  rivers;  of  enormous 
voracity  and  strength,  as  well  as  fleetness  in  swimming; 
attacks  mankind  and  the  largest  animals  with  most  dar- 
ing impetuosity;  when  taken  by  means  of  a  powerful  net, 
will  often  overturn  the  boats  that  surround  it ;  has,  pro- 
portionally, the  largest  mouth  of  all  monsters  whatever; 
moves  both  its  jaws  equally,  the  upper  of  which  has  not 
less  than  forty,  and  the  lower  thirty-eight  sharp,  but 
strong  and  massy  teeth ;  and  is  furnished  with  a  coat  of 
mail,  so  scaly  and  callous  as  to  resist  the  force  of  a  mus- 
ket ball  in  every  part  except  under  the  belly.  Indeed,  to 
this  animal  the  general  character  of  the  Leviathan  seems 
so  well  to  apply,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  seek  farther." 

How  transient  are  the  wild-flowers  of  guess  work ! 

How  tangled  and  confused,  and  therefore  unreliable, 
are  the  reasonings  and  varying  conclusions  (?)  of  these 
so-called  authorities  on  the  subject !  Men  of  good  motives 
undoubtedly  they  were — and  learned  in  their  way,  but 
so  wedded  to  materiality,  as  to  be  unable  to  comprehend 
anything  beyond  a  fleshy  animal. 


122  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

Suppose  that  one  of  these  learned  men  had  carefully- 
explained  to  a  lot  of  Sunday-school  children  all  about 
Leviathan  as  a  crocodile,  and  just  here  some  incorrigible 
ten-year-old  should  suggest:  "Isaiah  (27:1)  says  'Levia- 
than is  a  crooked  serpent',"  and  another  inquiring  young- 
ster should  remark:  "David  says  that  Leviathan  has  more 
than  one  head."  (Psalm  74:14.)  Consternation!  We  have 
then  David  and  Isaiah  (both  are  inspired  writers)  on 
the  one  side,  and  the  learned  commentators  on  the  other; 
and  consequently,  who  shall  the  children  believe? 

It  should  be  remembered  that  there  are  two  ways  of 
interpreting  Bible  statements;  the  spiritual  and  the  ma- 
terial, and  the  latter  should,  and  finally  must,  give  prece- 
dence to  the  former.  Spiritual  is  godlike ;  the  material 
is  manlike,  the  true  and  the  false. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that 
either  Behemoth  or  Leviathan,  as  animals,  ever  had  an 
existence;  for  it  is  entirely  impossible  that  any  material 
animals  could  answer  or  fulfill  the  descriptions  given  of 
them  in  the  book  of  Job ;  neither  do  they  come  near  those 
descriptions,  as  can  be  plainly  seen  by  anyone  who  will 
carefully  read  them.  They  are  fallacies — material  con- 
ceptions, merely  someone's  opinions.* 

In  what  manner  is  Behemoth  "chief  of  the  ways  of 
God"? 

Tell  the  meaning  of  "he  that  made  him  (Behemoth) 
can  make  his  sword  to  approach  unto  him". 

What  is  meant  by  "mountains"  in  verse  20th? 

Verses   21    and   22 — Does   Behemoth   lie   "under   the 


*A11  efforts  to  account  for  Behemoth  and  Leviathan  as  animals 
or  as  representing  scientifically  classified  spcies  of  animals  as  "pachyder- 
mata"  (thick  skinned),  or  "herbivora"  (grass-eaters),  or  Carnivora 
(flesh  eaters),  are  failures.  Such  comparisons  do  not  and  cannot  meet 
the  case  neither  in  word  nor  effect.     We  must  look  beyond  the  material ! 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  123 

shady  trees  (planning,  scheming,  plotting)  in  the  covert 
of  the  reed,  and  fens"?  "The  shady  trees"? 

Is  it  not  human  pretention  that  "drinketh  up  a  river" 
— that  "can  draw  up  Jordan  into  his  mouth"? 

"He  taketh  it  with  his  eyes ;  his  nose  pierceth  through 
snares!"  Can  an  animal  fulfill  this  description?  Is  it  not 
perfectly  fitted  to  describe  Human  Intelligence?  Read 
again  Job  40:15-24. 

"Behemoth"  (reason),  made  as  man's  servant,  is  ever 
ready  to  become  his  master.  Uncontrolled  by  good  (God) 
he  becomes  perverse,  tyrannical,  and  obstinate  in  the 
wrong — like  a  vicious  horse,  kicking  or  biting — now  balk- 
ing, now  going  ahead  spasmodically,  unreliable  and  full 
of  anger.  Looking  for  trouble  and  finding  it.  He  is  run- 
ning mate  to  Leviathan.  He  is  the  warhorse  that  must 
be  tamed  and  guided. 

The  correct  name  for  "Leviathan"  is  EVIL.  He  is 
the  adversary,  the  serpent  in  the  garden.  He  is  the  oppo- 
site of  God,  Good;  the  Satan  that  "came  also",  the  "pes- 
tilence that  walketh  in  darkness",  "a  liar  and  the  father 
of  it",  "the  great  red  dragon"  that  "stood  before  the  wo- 
man      to  devour  her  child  as  soon  as  it  was 

born",  "that  old  serpent  called  the  Devil,  and  Satan  which 
deceiveth  the  whole  world".  (In  Isaiah,  27:1,  we  read: 
"Leviathan,  the  piercing  serpent,  Leviathan,  that  crooked 
serpent".)  "Behold  the  hope  of  him  is  vain;  shall  not  one 
be  cast  down,  even  at  the  sight  of  him  " — "Who  hath 
prevented  me,  that  I  should  repay  him?  Whatsoever  is 
under  the  whole  heaven  is  mine."  (Job,  41:9-11.)  God 
alone  can  subdue  sin. 

"I  will  not  conceal  his  parts,  nor  his  power,  nor  his 
comely  proportion." 

(How  different  from  "Behemoth"  (the  human  mind), 
which  "I  made  with  thee!") 


124  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

"Who  can  open  the  doors  of  his  face?"  "His  heart  is 
as  firm  as  a  stone ;  yea,  as  hard  as  a  piece  of  the  nether 
mill  stone."     Look  not  on  his  face  nor  his  stony  heart. 

This  "Leviathan"  is  the  uncreated  Devil  that  is  for- 
ever seeking  to  deceive,  to  delude  and  to  mislead  human 
intelligence.  Jesus  called  him  by  his  right  name,  "a  liar 
from  the  beginning  and  the  father  of  it".  (John,  8:44.) 
This  is  the  murderer  that  wrought  in  Saul  the  Pharisee 
(afterward  Paul),  "all  manner  of  errors"  and  then  "slew 
him".     (Rom.,  7:8-11.) 

Take  time  to  study  (not  carelessly  read),  this  seventh 
chapter  of  Romans.  It  is  too  deep  to  be  comprehended 
by  simply  reading. 

Behemoth  typifies  what  Paul  calls  "carnal  mind",  in 
his  letters  to  Romans  and  Corinthians. 

Shall  we  look  for  higher  authority?  Listen  to  the  voice 
of  Jesus  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God.  He  warns  us  against 
depending  upon  thought;  that  is,  human  intelligence, 
which,  spiritually,  is  the  "eye"  that  must  be  "plucked 
out"  and  the  "right  hand"  that  must  be  "cut  off"  before 
we  can  come  into  the  correct  understanding  of  that  truth 
which  "makes  us  free". 

In  the  14th  verse  of  the  40th  chapter  of  Job,  human 
intelligence  is  very  distinctly  referred  to  as  the  right 
hand  of  Job. 

Humanity  has  its  Spiritual  element,  and  this  is  the 
grandest  truth  that  man  can  know ;  but  it  is  like  a  sleep- 
ing infant. 

Humanity  has  its  unspiritual  element,  which  is  like 
a  wide-awake  young  man  ("the  young  lion"),  and  under 
this  influence  humanity  is  continually  getting  itself  into 
mistakes  which  lead  to  troubles  of  every  kind,  including 
sin  and  sickness.  This  was  clear  to  the  psalmist  when 
he  wrote :  "They  are  all  gone  aside,  they  are  altogether 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  125 

become  filthy;  there  is  not  one  that  doeth  good,  no,  not 
one!"  (Ps.,  14:3.)  Paul  enlarges  very  much  on  this  in  the 
third  chapter  of  Romans  beginning  at  verse  5.    Also  7  :23. 

Humanity  can  escape  from  the  thrall  of  this  errone- 
ous condition,  by  awakening  its  Spiritual  self,  nurturing 
its  growth,  heeding  its  voice  and  obeying  its  words,  for 
it  can  only  utter  Truth.  It  is  the  "still  small  voice" 
which  comes  not  of  human  knowledge,  but  through  the 
quiet  atmosphere  of  true  Christianity,  which  is  Spiritual. 

The  grand  fact  of  the  Bible,  the  grander  fact  of  Re- 
ligion, the  grandest  fact  of  Christianity,  is  the  predomi- 
nance of  Spiritual  Truth  over  human  (so-called)  knowl- 
edge. 

If  you  ask  to  know  whence  the  writer  has  been  able 
to  see  certain  things  that  are  averred  in  this  book,  I  will 
promptly  say  I  do  not  know  with  certainty.  For  example : 
expressing  the  belief  that  "Behemoth",  "the  lion"  and 
"the  young  lion",  all  refer  to  human  reason; — and  also 
that  "Leviathan",  "adder"  and  "the  dragon",  are  identical 
and  all  refer  to  sin. 

I  am  charged  with  assumption.  So!  Let  me  reply 
that  they  who  assert  or  believe  that  these  nondescripts, 
Behemoth,  Leviathan  and  Dragon  are  animals,  are 
equally  assumptive.    Who  ever  saw  one  of  them? 

This,  however,  I  will  affirm  and  positively  declare,  I 
have  heard  the  words  of  a  voice,  which  I  am  convinced 
proceeds  from  a  source  that  is  higher  than  reason. 

Let  me  here  quote  a  few  passages  from  the  Sacred 
Word  regarding  this  "Voice". 

1.  "Cry  aloud,  Spare  not,   Lift   up   the  Voice,   like  a 
trumpet."     (Is.,  58:1.) 

2.  "The  Voice  of  God  said,  Let  there  be  Light  and  there 
was  Light."     (Gen.,  1  :3.) 


126  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

3.  "In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was 
with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God."     (John,  1 :1.) 

4.  "He  spake  by  the  mouth  of  his  holy  prophets." 
(Luke,  1:70.) 

5.  "I  am  the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness." 
(John,  1 :23.) 

6.  "The   Lord   answered   Job   out   of  the   whirlwind." 
(Job,  38:1.) 

7.  "And  lo  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying,  This  is  my 
beloved  Son."     (Mat.,  3:17;  Mark,  1:11.) 

8.  "And  there  come  a  voice  out  of  the  cloud."  (Luke, 
9:35.) 

9.  "My  word  shall  not  pass  away."  (Jesus.) 

10.  "Wisdom  uttereth  her  voice  in  the  streets."    (Prov. 
1  :20.) 

11.  "If  any  man  hear  my  voice  and  open  the  door,  I  will 
come  in  to  him."     (Rev.  3  :20.) 

12.  "The  first  voice  which  I  heard  was  as  it  were  of  a 
trumpet."  (Rev.,  4:1.) 

And  hundreds  of  other  similar  expressions  from  Gen- 
esis to  Revelations.  "Yet  man  perceiveth  it  not."  (Job, 
33  :14.)  We  hear  the  audible  voice !  Let  us  listen  for  the 
unerring  Spiritual  Word. 

CHAPTER  V. 
An  Incident. 

In  the  first  months  of  the  year  1865,  in  the  mining 
town  of  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  there  was  a  young  man 
lying  very  sick.  The  trouble  began  with  pleurisy,  and 
for  six  or  seven  weeks  it  seemed  as  though  every  organ 
and  membrane  in  *his  chest  was  swollen  with  inflamma- 
•tion,  attended  with  very  high  fever  and  with  tormenting 
pain  and  sufferings  During  most  of  this  time  he  was  de- 
lirious. 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  127 

He  was  in  a  good  house  in  which  all  conditions  were 
more  than  comfortable.  Friends  surrounded  him,  one  of 
whom  became  his  constant  attendant  and  companion  for 
months.  Two  of  the  best  physicians  in  the  city  treated 
him  in  consultation,  and  for  a  time  they  were  hopeful, 
from  the  fact  that  the  patient  had  a  good  constitution 
and  his  age  (28  years)  was  considered  to  be  that  at  which 
a  man  has  the  greatest  capacity  to  combat  and  endure 
disease  and  suffering. 

So  the  long,  long  days  dragged  wearily  on.  Each 
morning  friends  kindly  inquired,  only  to  be  disappointed, 
until  even  the  light  of  hope  disappeared  from  the  view 
of  nurse,  doctors  and  friends.     One  of  the  doctors  said, 

"You  may  as  well  write  to  Mr.  's  friends  and  tell 

them  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  him  to  be  alive  twenty- 
four  hours  hence."  The  other  doctor  (who  was  an  inti- 
mate friend  of  the  sufferer)  bore  a  look  of  utter  discour- 
agement, and  the  face  of  the  friend  who  was  acting  as 
nurse  seemed  to  express  only  hopeless  despair.  All  looked 
for  the  end. 

That  night  the  patient,  in  a  few  moments  of  sleep, 
dreamed  that  the  saw  the  door  of  his  room  opened,  and 
there  came  in  a  young  stranger  with  a  smiling  and  good- 
natured  face,  who  in  a  businesslike  manner  announced 
that  he  came  from  the  office  of  death.  The  dreamer  qui- 
etly asked  "Have  you  come  for  me?"  And  after  a  little 
parleying  was  told,  "No."  (The  author  could  detail  more 
of  this  interview,  but  it  is  unnecessary.)  Fear  was  not 
present. 

The  next  morning,  when  the  doctors  came,  the  pa- 
tient whispered  to  his  friend  that  he  felt  a  little  better, 
and  the  sympathizing  doctor  agreed  with  this,  and  a  day 
later  the  fever  had  very  much  abated,  and  symptoms  were 
more  favorable. 


128  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

Now  follows  the  most  deeply  interesting  part  of  this 
story.  For  many  days  the  sufferer  had  been  delirious, 
and  in  his  illusion  he  imagined  that  the  forms  of  two 
others  were  beside  him.  He  was  lying  upon  his  back  and 
believed  that  at  his  right,  and  close  against  him,  was  a 
somewhat  younger  and  smaller  man,  and  next  to  him 
was  a  little  boy  of  say  six  or  seven  years  or  so.  No  one 
of  this  trio  could  escape,  or  alter  his  position,  but  the 
patient  was  suffering  by  fire  for  all  three.  He  never 
spoke  of  them  nor  turned  to  see,  but  yet  was  so  vividly 
conscious  of  how  they  appeared  that,  although  this  oc- 
curred nearly  forty-eight  years  ago,  the  impression  still 
remains — so  vividly  that,  if  he  were  a  painter,  he  could 
detail  their  expressions  on  canvas.  The  young  man 
seemed  a  cheery  young  fellow,  such  as  you  often  meet, 
somewhat  thoughtless,  gay,  free  from  care,  neither  es- 
pecially good  nor  distinctly  bad,  neither  wise  nor  silly, 
a  kind  of  inexperienced  starter  out  in  some  unknown 
career,  ready  to  go  anywhere  or  do  almost  anything  that 
promised  a  living  and  success.  He  seemed  a  little  dis- 
satisfied with  the  patient  for  detaining  him,  not  suffering 
pain  himself,  nor  once  offering  to  assist  or  relieve  the 
patient;  indifferent,  as  though  he  would  say,  "Live  or 
die,  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  it.  If  you  live — I'll  prob- 
ably stay  with  you.  If  you  die — I'll  try  some  other  man." 
Toward  the  boy  at  his  side,  he  seemed  to  be  alike  indif- 
ferent, though  not  unaware. 

Millions  of  examples  of  this  stamp  are  and  ever  have 
been  embodied  in,  and  are  clinging  to,  all  conditions  of 
humanity,  though  unseen  by  the  eye,  and  scarce- 
ly ever  realized  or  in  any  way  recognized  by  those  whom 
they  persistently*  attend.  They  have  utterly  no  regard 
for  the  first  commandment;  neither  for  the  two  great 
commandments  -spoken  by  Jesus.  They  exemplify  only 
the  stubborn  will  of  selfish  man. 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  129 

But  more  of  this  fellow  farther  on. 

Now,  the  face  of  the  little  boy,  represented  something 
quite  different;  an  appearance  of  neglect  and  conscious- 
ness of  such  neglect;  aware  of  something  wrong;  a  de- 
sire to  go  over  to  the  sufferer  but  kept  from  doing  so  by 
the  one  before  described;  an  expression  of  childlike  help- 
lessness because  he  was  unable  to  make  things  better;  a 
feeling  such  as  a  child  might  have  who  was  concerned 
for  his  parent;  innocent  of  evil — like  those  of  whom  the 
Master  said,  "Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  for 
of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven !" 

When,  as  already  stated,  a  condition  of  improvement 
showed  itself,  the  patient's  friends  in  their  kindness, 
brought  to  him  some  food,  which  he  had  not  tasted  for 
many  days,  and  though  he  took  but  little,  that  little  was 
in  his  weakened  state  too  much.  As  a  consequence  the 
fever  again  increased-  for  some  hours  to  its  full  force. 
The  delirium  returned,  and  with  it  these  same  two  like- 
nesses just  described.  This  time,  however,  their  stay 
was  short,  lasting  perhaps  half  a  day.  Then  improve- 
ment again  came,  very  gradually,  and  after  four  or  five 
months,  health  was  sufficiently  regained  so  that  the  man 
could  resume  his  business,  though  never  with  his  former 
physical  strength.  He,  however,  continued  a  business 
career  of  many  years,  resulting  in  financial  success,  but 
realizing  the  oftproven  unavailability  of  wealth  to  confer 
true  riches.  During  all  this  career  the  unsympathetic 
young  fellow  described  on  the  preceding  pages  was  his 
constant  companion  and  co-partner,  though  the  man 
knew  it  not.  The  influence  of  the  little  fellow  seemed 
not  to  develop.  Perhaps  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  the 
man  who  was  the  subject  of  this  whole  incident,  is  the 
writer  of  these  pages.  The  soulless  companion  was — 
Evil,  the  deceiver  of  all  mankind. 


130  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

It  would  seem  that  the  suffering  described  ought  to 
have  turned  him  to  God,  the  only  real  refuge.     But  no. 

Had  he  heeded  the  "still  small  voice"  of  the  pleading 
child,  perhaps  it  had  been  better.  Perhaps  otherwise.  I 
know  not.  The  spiritual  eyes  of  my  inner  self  were  again 
closed, — to  be  once  more  opened  through  suffering! 

Let  none  say  hastily  or  carelessly  that  the  foregoing 
was  merely  the  dream  of  a  delirious  mind.  Though  you 
may  think  so,  you  do  not  know  it,  and  there  is  a  vast 
difference  between  thinking  and  knowing.  This  to  all. 
I  know  it  was  far  more  than  a  dream,  which,  it  is  claimed 
and  generally  admitted,  lasts  but  a  few  minutes,  and  usu- 
ally disappears  like  vapor.  But  very  different  from  the 
disappearing  dream  of  the  sleeper  is  the  vision  of  truth, 
which  is  from  the  immortal.  The  dream  is  uncertain  and 
utterly  unreliable ;  perhaps  now  and  then  apparently  cor- 
rect, but  far  more  frequently  illusive  and  false,  as  all  can 
easily  remember.  If  you  dreamed  something  and  it,  as 
they  say,  "came  true",  have  you  not  a  hundred  times 
dreamed  of  something  that  did  not,  or  could  not  occur? 

Entirely  different,  however,  is  the  vision  of  truth, 
which  comes  through  spirituality,  instead  of  materiality, 
and  these  two  differ  from  each  other  even  as  light  dif- 
fers from  darkness. 

Nevertheless,  let  us  stop  here  for  a  moment  and  con- 
sider. It  is  clear  to  many,  as  the  Bible  teaches,  that  man 
has  human  understanding  (which  often  makes  mistakes) 
and  a  spiritual  understanding,  which  is  always  correct. 
Paul  makes  this  plain.  (Rom.,  7:14  and  8:1-26.)  Now, 
if  both  these  differing  elements  dream,  should  it  not  be 
that  the  first  named  is  unreliable  and  the  second  true? 
I  make  no  assertion,  but  simply  inquire  of  "ye  that  have 
knowledge".  Who  can  answer?    Who  can  say  yes,  or  no? 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  131 

CHAPTER  VI. 

To  those  who  will  carefully  study  the  book  of  Job,  it 
is  a  mine  of  instruction  and  a  reservoir  of  spiritual  under- 
standing. The  writer  has  endeavored  to  study  it  prayer- 
fully, which  is  far  more  than  carefully. 

The  great  Desire  of  man  is  human  knowledge,  while 
his  great  Need  is  spiritual  understanding.  Knowledge 
comes  from  and  through  thought,  and  is  the  wisdom  of 
this  world,  which  Paul  declares  "is  foolishness  with  God". 
In  the  first,  second  and  third  chapters  of  his  first  letter  to 
the  Corinthians  he  describes  and  accents  the  vast  differ- 
ence between  knowledge  (human)  and  wisdom.  He  in- 
herited and  attained  in  earlier  life  much  of  the  former, 
but  the  latter  only  came  after  his  marvellous  conversion. 
Thenceforward,  till  he  finished  his  course,  he  was  con- 
stantly putting  off  ''the  old  man  with  his  deeds"  and  put- 
ting on  "the  new  man".  That  is,  rising  from  knowledge 
to  wisdom,  from  that  which  reasons  to  that  which  under- 
stands ;  from  the  "carnal  mind"  even  to  the  "spiritual 
mind".     (Rom.,  8.) 

I  may  be  presumptuous.  I  may  be  unable  to  see 
clearly.  I  may  "open  my  mouth  in  vain,  and  multiply 
words  without  wisdom."  I  may  be  "darkening  counsel 
by  words  without  knowledge."  If  so,  I  know  it  not.  God 
knows  all.  And  this  consoles  and  comforts  even  me;  for 
He  knows  my  honesty  and  the  deepest  motives  of  my 
heart.     So  be  it.     I  have  endeavored  to  perform  a  duty. 

Please  refer  now  to  the  the  sketch  and  explanation,  on 
the  two  pages  following  the  title  page  of  this  little  book, 
in  which  is  illustrated  a  presentation  that  came  distinctly 
and  directly  to  me.  Doctors  may  smile  with  pity;  theo- 
logy may  reject  with  scorn  and  be  disposed  to  "cast  him 
out"  (John,  9:34),  but  "one  thing  I  know,  that,  whereas 


132  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

I  was  blind,  now  I  see"  (John  9:25).  Dawning  light  is 
coming,  where  before,  all  was  darkness. 

Let  us  ask  in  what  manner  does  the  "carnal  mind" 
differ  from  the  fleshly  body?  The  most  distinct  differ- 
ence seems  to  be  that  the  first  is  invisible  to  the  human 
eye;  for  both  are  "of  the  earth  earthy". 

The  young  man  so  ill  in  Nevada  in  1865,  now,  in  newer 
understanding  of  life,  realizes  that  he  was  at  that  time  so 
near  dissolution  that  he  saw  himself  with  his  larger  share 
of  "carnal  mind",  which  is  human,  and  his  struggling 
element  of  Right,  which  is  Spiritual,  and  yet  he  under- 
stood not!  "See  ye  indeed,  but  perceive  not."  (Isaiah, 
6:9.)  The  Bible  often  refers  to  this  blindness  and  lack  of 
understanding.  These  "two  or  three"  must  be  "gathered 
together  in  his  name". 

What  is  the  real  meaning  of  these  "two  or  three"? 
The  condition  is  "in  my  name,"  and  the  promise  is, 
"There  am  I  in  the  midst  of  them." 

As  commonly  read  it  seems  to  refer  to  the  assembling 
of  a  small  number  of  individuals.  So!  With  this  inter- 
pretation, an  isolated  man  (perhaps  the  single  survivor 
of  a  shipwreck  who  found  himself  alone  on  an  island, 
hundreds  of  miles  from  anyone  else),  would  be  excluded 
from  the  benefit  of  this  promise  of  the  Master! 

May  it  not  be  explained  by  Paul's  references  to  him- 
self; the  "carnal  mind"  and  the  "inward  man"?  If  so, 
it  is  clear  to  me,  that  one  of  these  three  must  be  the  in- 
ward man  which  is  Spiritual. 

If  theology  claims  that  revelation  ended  with  the  days 
of  John  and  Paul,  where  is  the  theologian  who  can  prove 
it?  The  writer  utterly  denies  such  a  claim,  for  disproof 
of  it  has  come  through  personal  experience. 

Yet  nearly  fifty  years  passed  before  the  seed  so  plant- 
ed unfolded  into  life.     And  this  development  came  at- 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  133 

tended  by  suffering;  nevertheless,  not  by  pain  alone,  but 
through  something  of  discernment  of  the  voice  "out  of 
the  whirlwind". 

(Read  the  ninth  chapter  of  Isaiah,  especially  verses 
2,  12,  and  17  to  21,  inclusive.)  So  the  war  continued. 

I  was,  indeed,  "in  the  land  of  the  shadow  of  death" 
when  the  dawning  light  shone  upon  me,  yet  was  I  so  dull 
of  comprehension  that  I  did  not  understand  it  for  more 
than  two  score  years.  And  why?  Because  I  listened  to 
the  evil  more  than  to  the  good.  Evil  led  me  into  darkness 
and  then  fought  against  me  (see  Lam.,  3:1,  2  and  3; 
also  Rom.,  7:23)  though  I  knew  it  not. 

Evil  was  with  me,  more  potent  than  good.  These  are 
the  opposing  elements  within  every  man.  Evil  is  what 
Paul  calls  the  "old  man,  which  with  his  deeds  must  be 
put  off". 

Evil  is  entirely  selfish ;  full  of  envy  and  greed ;  is  not 
subject  to  the  law  of  God;  never  advises  man  honestly; 
has  no  regard  for  his  little  neighbor,  good;  in  fact,  con- 
stantly opposes  any  influence  adverse  to  his  own ;  may 
perhaps  says,  "Be  honest,  because  honesty  is  the  best  pol- 
icy", but  never,  because  it  is  right.  Now,  how  could  it  be 
otherwise,  since  evil  "is  of  the  earth,  earthy"?  (1  Cor., 
15-47.)  Evil  flourishes  on  the  tree  of  knowledge! 

But  entirely  different  was  our  little  neighbor!  Patient, 
uncomplaining,  intensely  interested,  hoping  and  trusting, 
he  could  only  utter  with  the  "still  small  voice" !  Again 
I  ask,  "How  could  it  be  otherwise?"  His  was  the  voice  of 
Truth,  which  is  the  ever-present  Christ,  so  oft  and  so 
long  unheeded — yet  the  only  voice  that  ever  has,  ever 
will  or  ever  can  guide  us  to  the  Kingdom  of  God ! 

So  have  I,  in  the  best  words  at  my  command,  described 
the  vision  so  obscure  to  me  then.  I  had  not  the  least  idea 
of  its  meaning.  Nevertheless,  the  memory  of  it  remained, 
though  perhaps  at  times,  unthought  of  for  years. 


134  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

Not  until  I  had  passed  the  age  of  three  score  and  ten 
did  I  gain  the  least  comprehension  of  this  vision,  and 
again  it  came  as  before  through  suffering.  But  of  this, 
more  farther  along.     (See  Job,  33:14.) 

Whoever  may  read  this  little  book  will  of  course  form 
his  or  her  opinion  of  this  vision ;  and  perhaps,  in  most 
cases,  such  opinions  may  be  adverse  to  my  own,  which  is 
this:  I  believe  that  with  Spiritual  discernment  I  beheld 
the  "two  or  three"  that  must  be  "gathered  together"  in 
His  name.  (Mat.  18:20.)  Humanly  condensed  it  was 
"Body,  Mind  and  Soul!" 

To  me,  it  was  truly  a  heavenly  vision,  as  direct  as  that 
described  by  Paul  (Acts  26:13),  and  came  from  the  same 
source.  I  believe  this  source  to  be  entirely  separate  from 
human  reason,  and  far  higher  than  anything  that  ever 
comes  through  human  mentality.  I  believe  that  the  same 
power  that  first  gave  this  vision,  has  preserved  it  so  dis- 
tinctly in  my  memory.  I  believe  I  am  nearer  to — that  is, 
have  a  better  understanding  of — that  power  in  my  later 
years  (my  seventies)  than  ever  before.  This  is  wit- 
nessed first  by  a  complete  change  in  my  thought  and  also 
by  promptings  that  have  come  to  me  since  this  change,  in 
a  manner  that  cannot  be  accounted  for  through  reason  or 
human  knowledge.  This  has  been  repeated  not  less  than 
six  times,  so  plainly,  that  I  could  distinctly  understand  it. 
Also  am  I  conscious  of  progressive  work  within  myself 
that  I  do  not  yet  comprehend.  For  these  things  I  humbly 
and  reverently  thank  my  God,  the  author  and  giver  of  all 
good,  for  He  is  only  GOOD ! 

Furthermore,  as  revelation  came  to  me  (though  so 
long  obscured)  I*  believe  it  comes  in  some  measure  to 
everyone.  But  "the  darkness  comprehended  it  not." 
Nevertheless,  theTe  is  a  "true  Light,  which  lighteth  every 
man  that  cometh  into  the  world."     (John  1 :9.) 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  135 

During  middle  life,  while  actively  engaged  in  busi- 
ness (success  in  which  was  my  main  object  and  desire), 
I  had  been  a  regular  attendant  in  orthodox  churches. 
While  not  a  member,  I  was  interested  to  an  extent  that 
made  me  a  church  trustee  for  about  fifteen  years.  Later 
I  became  a  member  of  both  the  Universalist  and  Uni- 
tarian churches,  not  an  unusual  thing  for  an  unsatisfied 
Christian.  These  two  denominations  are  commonly 
known  in  this  country  as  the  liberal  churches.  Such  for 
a  time  they  seemed  to  me,  but  in  later  years,  orthodox 
and  liberal  are  not  so  unlike  as  to  justify  any  wide  dis- 
tinction. They  are  all  aiming  to  do  good,  and  just  about 
equal  each  other  in  motive,  loyalty  and  earnestness. 

Wandering  farther  in  the  ''wilderness",  the  cloudy 
maze  of  uncertainty,  Mental  Science  (so-called)  had  at- 
tracted my  attention,  and  was  an  added  experience.  For 
a  time  this  pretentious  "science"  seemed  a  helping  hand 
but  finally  proved  not  only  its  utter  inefficacy  to  benefit, 
but  its  baneful  influence  for  harm.  I  have  respect  for 
the  doctors  and  for  the  churches,  but  none  whatever  for 
what  is  called  "Mental  Science."  It  is,  in  fact,  mental 
unscience,  which  would  endeavor  to  control  God's  man 
("made  in  His  likeness")  by  and  through  the  man  made 
of  the  "dust  of  the  ground,"  whose  life  is  in  "his  nos- 
trils."    (See  Isaiah  2:22.) 

Whoever  depends  on  mental  science  (so-called),  is 
starving,  in  the  effort  to  sustain  himself  on  unsatisfactory 
husks. 

I  have  enjoyed  the  companionship  of  many  friends 
in  all  the  various  churches  referred  to,  and  feel  entire 
good-will  for  each  and  every  one  of  them.  Surely  their 
object  and  effect  is  toward  good,  the  lifting  up  of  hu- 
manity; and  this  glorious  motive  should  unite  all  Chris- 
tians in  sympathetic  harmony.     Let  rivalry  in  efforts  to 


136  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

do  that  which  is  useful  and  right,  and  for  true  religious 
advancement,  take  the  place  of  comparing  or  criticising. 
(See  Rom.  2:1-4,  also  Phil.  4:8.) 

How  commonly  and  carelessly  we  speak  of  families 
as  belonging  to  this  or  that  denomination,  as  if  religious 
belief  was  a  question  of  family  birth,  and  so  children 
are  to  follow  parental  influence.  A  sect  of  Christian 
believers  clings  tenaciously  to  the  opinion  of  a  man 
who  lived  a  few  years  ago.  It  is  said  there  are  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  (perhaps  more)  differing  sects  of  Chris- 
tians. Some  differ  but  slightly  from  their  neighbors, 
while  between  others  there  seems  strong  antagonism. 
Moreover,  most  of  them  make  occasional  changes  in 
their  doctrines.  And  so  it  has  been  for  centuries.  All 
cannot  be  right,  for  strictly  speaking  there  is  but  one 
right.  Variations  of  doctrines  and  occasional  changes 
of  belief  are  not  satisfactory. 

Let  us  all  try  to  be  fair,  one  toward  another.  Jesus 
said,  "By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  If  the  prej- 
udice of  birth  or  education  or  any  other  circumstance 
unfits  us  for  judging  doctrines  and  beliefs,  let  us  look  to 
the  fruits,  for  comparison;  who  is  doing  the  most  good? 
What  is  somewhat  indefinitely  called  orthodoxy, 
may  not  appeal  to  me,  yet  my  father  was  a  Presbyterian 
elder  for  about  forty  years.  This  tribute  does  his  oft- 
mistaken  son  pay  to  his  memory :  After  so  many  years 
of  experience,  I  never  knew  a  better  man ! 

CHAPTER  VII. 

"Twice." 

"God  speaketh  once,  yea  twice,  yet  man  perceiveth 
it  not."  (Job,  33":14.)  This  truth  has  indeed  been  ex- 
emplified. 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  137 

In  a  former  chapter  I  have  described  a  severe  illness 
with  its"  attendant  suffering.  It  would  seem  that  this 
should  have  been  sufficient  for  one  lifetime.  But  no, 
many  years  later  when  I  had  passed  the  allotted  "three 
score  and  ten"  came  other  forms  of  suffering  and  pain 
not  less  severe  than  the  earlier  experience.  In  the  first 
I  retained  hope,  while  in  the  later  trial,  even  the  door  of 
hope  seemed  closed  and  barred.  Briefly,  I  was  suffering 
from  the  effects  of  disease  which  was  first  observed 
when  I  was  a  little  boy  and  had  given  trouble  periodi- 
cally for  sixty  years  with  a  tendency  to  grow  worse.  I 
was  so  utterly  cast  down  that  not  only  hope — but  even 
desire  to  live — had  passed  away,  and  I  thought  my 
Maker  unjust  because  my  life  was  not  at  once  destroyed. 
Annihilation  seemed  such  a  simple  solution  of  the  mat- 
ter; and  so  I  declared  man  better  than  God!  (Read  the 
third  chapter  of  Job,  especially  verses  17  to  21.) 

Although  knowing  and  acknowledging  that  goodness 
had  not  been  my  aim  as  much  as  it  should  have  been, 
what  had  I  done  that  I  should  be  tortured?  Why  did 
not  God,  if  He  was  merciful,  just  blot  me  out  of  exist- 
ence, which  simple  request  was  all  that  I  asked?  I  de- 
nied His  kindness,  mercy,  love  or  justice!  I  thought  and 
said  that  "My  father  or  my  mother  were  better  than  this 
being  you  call  God,  for  neither  of  them  would  permit 
even  the  vilest  to  suffer  like  this !  And  if  He  does  not 
send  this  torment,  He  permits  it,  which  is  just  as  bad!" 

More  I  said,  which  I  would  willingly  forget. 

Men  think  they  know  their  wants,  but  where  is  the 
human  being  who  knows  his  needs?  I,  for  one,  have 
never  seen  him.     Certainly  I  did  not  know  my  needs. 

Imagine  a  man  afloat  and  alone  on  the  stormy  waves! 
Imagine  a  man  standing  on  the  roof  of  a  high  build- 
ing  from    which    flame   and    smoke   were    pouring   from 


138  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

every  window!  Imagine  a  man  in  a  vast  desert  pursued 
by  a  pack  of  hungry  wolves !  Like  these  seemed  my 
condition.     But  "man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity." 

Medicine,  Theology,  and  Suggestion  (will  power) 
had,  like  Job's  three  friends,  "stood  still  and  answered 
no  more."  (Job  32:16.)  Then  came,  like  a  rising  star, 
before  unnoticed,  a  speaker  that  amazed  all,  with  words 
that  to  me,  were  like  the  words  of  Elihu  to  Job:  "the 
voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness." 

Job  had  mistaken  chastening  instruction  for  cruel 
persecution.  And  this  also  has  been  the  mistake  of 
countless  thousands.  Moreover,  this  mistake  must  be 
corrected,  here  or  hereafter,  before  any  shall  be  able 
to  say  "but  now  mine  eye  seeth  Thee!"  (Job  42:5.) 
"The  Lord  hath  His  way  in  the  whirlwind  and  in  the 
storm !"  (Nahum  1 :3.)  This  tempest  is  wholly  within 
the  human  consciousness. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Conclusion. 

Here  ends  what  the  writer  has  to  say  of  the  book  of 
Job.  I  believe  myself  justified  in  seeing  a  certain 
analogy  between  Job's  experience  and  those  of  other 
men  as  exemplified  in  myself.  Not  that  I  have  yet  at- 
tained the  elevation  that  came  to  him  through  the  voice 
out  of  the  whirlwind,  but  unmistakable  utterances  have 
come  to  me  from  a  source  higher  than  human  reason. 
This  I  know,  and  no  man  nor  any  human  combination 
can  take  it  from  me.  I  have  heard  the  voice  of  the  fore- 
runner and  am  watching  and  listening  for  the  higher 
voice  of  truth  (John  14:17),  which  comes  not  through 
human  reasoning"! 

The  grandest  instruction  I  have  been  able  to  obtain 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  139 

from  a  careful  study  of  the  book  of  Job  (and  likewise 
supported  through  my  own  experience),  is  its  teaching 
of  thejvastj>ower  which  is  opened  to  man  through  spirit- 
uajsight  and  hearing.  The  "voice  out  of  the  whirlwind," 
"the  thunder  of  his  power." 

Job  was,  and  is,  a  type  of  the  regenerated  man,  when 
brought  to  an  understanding  of  truth,  when  transformed 
by  the  ever  present  Christ,  which  was  "before  Abraham" 
and  "before  the  world  was." 

Through  suffering  he  had  gone  down  to  a  point 
where  there  were  just  two  paths  before  him.  One  was 
a  broad  avenue,  which  lead  down  "into  the  pit",  and 
was  plainly  apparent  to  his  human  sense — the  end  of 
his  human  existence.  The  other  was  "the  narrow  way," 
which  is  only  discerned  spiritually.  And  just  here  his 
spiritual  eyes  were  first  opened  by  Elihu  (Job  33:22-24). 
Later  came  the  instructing  voice  of  God,  the  unseen 
though  ever  existing  and  ever  present,  Christ. 

But  "Elias  truly  shall  first  come."  (Mat.  17:11-13.) 
He  who  through  pain  and  suffering  is  brought  down  to 
the  pit,  realizes,  that  God  is  his  only  refuge  or  strength  ; 
as  others,  may  not. 

Like  Job,  men  mistake  instruction  for  persecution 
until  their  eyes  are  opened  by  the  voice  of  Truth,  which 
is  the  Christ.  To  our  human  understanding,  suffering 
is  not  enjoyable  and  therefore  does  not  meet  our  wants. 
But  if  it  strengthens  our  desires  to  be  free  (from  affliction 
of  any  kind),  does  it  not  make  us  more  earnest  in  seeking 
for  that  Truth  which  makes  us  free?  Then  it  is  plain  that 
suffering  meets  not  our  wants,  but  our  needs;  which  are 
"absolute  faith  in  God",  and  "Spiritual  understanding 
of  Him." 

Paul  had  his  "thorn  in  the  flesh"  and  asked  for  re- 
lief from  it,  "besought  the  Lord  three  times."     Turn  to 


140  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

your  Bible,  my  friend,  and  read  the  answer  he  received. 
Then  he  saw  and  realized  the  supporting  power 
of  the  ever-present  Christ.  Spiritual  strength  is 
developed  through  human  suffering.  (II  Cor.  12:7-10.) 
Our  closed  eyes  are  opened  by  chastisement.  Job's  case 
illustrates  this.  Elihu  first  pointed  it  out  to  him,  but, 
The  Christ — the  voice  out  of  the  whirlwind — compelled 
him  to  understand  it ! 

If  the  Christ,  is  immortal  Good,  from  Heaven  (his 
sphere),  to  the  earthly  man, — who  shall  say  it  did  not 
come  in  ancient  days?  If  it  came  in  the  man  Jesus 
nineteen  centuries  ago,  who  shall  say  it  did  not  come 
through  cloud  and  storm  ages  before?  Who  shall  say  it 
comes  not  today,  through  the  whirlwind  of  affliction? 
Verily  "the  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth !"  Who  shall 
tell  of  "that  which  is  born  of  Spirit?"  (John  3:6.) 

Paul  did  not  at  first  comprehend  the  benefit  of  suf- 
fering, or  rather  that  which  comes  through  suffering.  He 
therefore  sought  escape  from  it.  But  after  the  answer  he 
received,  through  revelation,  then  he  realized  that  even 
in  the  flesh  he  was  protected  sufficiently  by  Spiritual 
power. — "My  Grace !"  His  need  was  indeed  supplied 
from  the  same  source  that  made  him  immune  from  the 
viper's  poison.  His  continued  "thorn  in  the  flesh" — per- 
haps the  frequent  recurrence  of  physical  pain — was  con- 
stantly overcome.  This  realization  of  Spiritual  support 
made  him  to  exclaim,  "When  I  am  weak,  then  am  I 
strong !"  Strong  through  Faith !  Faith  through  a  com- 
prehension of  Spirit — the  ever-present  Power  which 
comes  to  man  through  the  Christ  when  man  "seeth"  this 
truth.  So  was  he  protected  from  the  effect  of  this 
thorn  in  the  flesh,"  as  a  "first  fruit  of  the  Spirit"  while 
patiently  waiting  for  his  complete  healing,  which  his 
strong  faith  toid  him  would  certainly  be  established. 
(Romans  8:18.) 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  141 

And  why  not?  Is  it  difficult  for  a  Christian  to  realize 
that  the  Spiritual  force  which  helps  him,  can  heal  him? 
Did  not  the  Master  proclaim  and  explain  the  unlimited 
power  of  Spirit?  Get  to  work,  my  brother,  on  this  teach- 
ing! Paul's  wonderful  eighth  chapter  of  Romans  will 
help  you. 

Man  is  regenerated,  "born  again",  when  the  Spiritual 
overcomes  the  human,  or  "that  which  is  born  of  the  flesh." 
In  infancy  there  is  no  apparent,  distinguish- 
able intelligence.  Knowledge  develops-  as  the 
human  body  grows.  The  child  has  life  (from 
God),  as  distinctly  as  the  man  of  mature  years, 
but  the  human  mind  is  like  a  bodily  growth.  Is  it  not 
"born  of  the  flesh?"  Boys  grow  up  as  frequently  with 
their  father's  peculiarities,  as  with  resemblance  of  features 
or  of  bodily  form  or  strength.  We  may  dimly  compre- 
hend that  human  thought  may  have  much  to  do  with  this 
"earthy"  man.  But  of  Life, — how  little  we  know!  (1st 
Cor.  15:47-48.) 

Life,  real  Life,  could  no  more  be  comprehended  by 
Darwin  or  Haeckel  than  by  you  or  me.  And  ask  you 
why?    Read  Paul's  answer.  (1st  Cor.  2:14.) 

Life  is  Spirit !  Spirit  is  God !  Can  Man  "by  search- 
ing (reasoning)  find  out  God?" 

I  am  searching  for  a  place  to  stop,  but  am  reluctant 
to  leave  my  dear  old  friend,  Job,  whom  I  have  learned  to 
love  even  as  an  elder  brother;  and  why  not? 

Irresistibly  was  I  drawn  to  him  ;  at  first  not  thinking 
much  on  the  subject,  nor  realizing  that  he  might  take 
any  special  interest  in  me.  But  from  simply  bidding  him 
an  occasional  good-morning  I  began  to  talk  with  him  and 
consult  him  (through  studying  the  book),  and  later  to 
visit  him  daily.  How  kind  he  was  and  is !  How  many 
instructive  lessons  he  is  giving  me!     From  first  to  last  I 


142  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

grow  more  and  more  to  regard  and  to  revere  him  as  the 
highest  example  of  a  sublimely  grand  man,  purified  and 
exalted,  purged  of  his  dross  and  demonstrating  Heaven 
on  Earth. 

But,  reader,  whoever  you  may  be,  go  and  see  him  for 
yourself.  He  lives  just  over  the  hill,  is  constantly  at 
home,  will  be  glad  to  see  you,  and  is  always  ready  to 
talk — provided  you  desire  to  listen.  And  you  will  be 
surprised  when  you  see  him,  to  find  that  notwithstanding 
his  age,  his  form  is  erect,  his  eye  clear,  his  complexion 
ruddy,  his  hair  and  beard  not  white,  but  only  streaked 
with  the  iron  gray  of  maturity,  and  with  a  happy  face 
that  grows  more  kindly  as  you  know  him  longer.  He 
will  tell  you,  possibly,  more  of  the  Bible  than  you  may 
have  before  observed  or  at  least  comprehended ;  for  he  has 
attained  that  spiritual  understanding,  so  far  above  that 
which  grows  upon  the  tree  of  knowledge. 

For  example,  taking  up  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis, 
he  will  tell  you  to  read  it  very  carefully,  and  also  include 
the  first  three  verses  of  the  second  chapter.  This  covers 
the  first  account  of  creation,  and  "let  there  be  light,"  was 
the  voice  of  God.  By  His  command,  all  things  were 
made,  and,  as  seen  by  Him,  declared  to  be  good,  and  at 
last  "very  good".     (See  also  John  1 : 1-2-3.) 

Now  follows  a  second  and  a  widely  different  account 
of  creation,  and  this  variation  has  been  a  stumbling  block 
to  many  earnest  Bible  readers  and  students.  So  it  cer- 
tainly was  to  me.  There  are  the  two  opposite  accounts ! 
Read  them  and  compare  them.  Certain  titled  professors, 
learned  in  their  ways,  have  attempted  to  harmonize  these 
two  conflicting  narrations  by  saying  that  the  first  is  gen- 
eral only,  while  the  second  is  more  specific,  going  into 
details  and  particulars.  If  these  learned  men  can  satisfy 
themselves  or  others,  they  certainly  have  failed  to  con- 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  143 

vince  thousands  of  earnest  Christians  who  are  seeking 
truth.- 

In  my  earlier  days  (looking  through  darkness  or 
mist),  these  conclusions  seemed  plainly  apparent. 

1st.  Here  the  Bible  gives  two  distinctly  opposite 
statements. 

2nd.     If  one  is  true,  the  other  must  be  false. 

3rd.  Knowing  not  which  statement  to  believe, — 
these  accounts  of  creation  were  of  no  value. 

And  still  today,  I  affirm,  that  any  man  who  depends 
entirely  or  mainly  on  human  reasoning,  as  he  reads  these 
two  accounts,  will  arrive  at  the  same  conclusion. 

But  the  man  who  through  the  experience  of  pain  and 
suffering;  or  through  the  experience  of  revelation;  or  the 
experience  of  exact  study;  or  through  these  three,  will  be 
able  to  understand,  that  the  first  account  is  spiritual,  and 
therefore  true,  while  the  second  account,  is  at  its  best  but 
a  counterfeit.  The  first  is  of  God,  Good ;  the  second  is 
of  evil,  the  opposite  of  good.  Will  this  account  for  their 
incongruity? 

We  will  only  take  up  briefly  one'  item  of  these  two 
accounts, — the  creation  of  man. 

In  the  first  account  we  read :  "And  God  said,  Let  us 
make  man  in  our  image,  after  our  likeness :  So  God 
created  man  in  his  own  image,  in  the  image  of  God 
created  he  him;  male  and  female  created  he  them."  (Gen. 
1  -26-27.) 

Consult  your  dictionary  for  the  words,  Image  and 
Likeness.  For  brevity  we  will  use  only  the  latter — 
LIKENESS. 

Jesus  said,  "God  is  spirit";  or  "a  Spirit",  if  you  prefer. 
Clearly  then,  the  man  in  His  "likeness",  the  resemblance 
of  God,  must  be  spiritual. 

Have  mortal  eyes  ever  beheld  Spirit,  or  a  spiritual 
man? 


144  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

Is  the  human  body — simply  a  material  growth — spirit- 
ual, or  likeness  of  God? 

Is  human,  finite  intelligence, — reasoning  and  often 
blundering, — spiritual,  or  in  any  way,  the  likeness  of  God, 
who  is  infinite,  and  perfect? 

Is  the  enfeebled  body  of  a  sick  mortal, — spiritual,  or 
likeness  of  God? 

Is  the  uncertain,  or  unreliable,  or  careless,  or  greedy, 
or  covetous,  or  dishonest,  or  vicious,  or  cruel-minded  man, 
in  any  respect,  the  "likeness"  of  Divinity?  On  the  con- 
trary this  "minded  man"  is  the  culprit  which  is  named 
by  Paul  the  "carnal  mind";  and  he  also  declares  it  to  be 
"enmity  against  God".  (Rom.  8:7.) 

Generally  speaking,  evil,  even  though  it  may  not  al- 
ways govern,  usually  predominates  in  the  human  mind. 
It  is  the  parent  of  greed.  It  is  the  "old  man"  which  with 
his  deeds  must  be  "put  off"  !  It  overcame  Eve  and  Adam  ; 
and  caused  Cain  to  kill  his  brother.  It  planned  for  Laban 
and  Jacob  to  deceive  and  defraud  each  other.  Evil  made 
David  an  adulterer  and  a  murderer!  It  caused  Peter  to 
deny  his  Master!  It  made  Paul  even  after  his  wonderful 
enlightenment,  to  exclaim,  "Oh,  wretched  man  that  I 
am !"  Evil,  starting  from  nihility,  seems  to  develop  with 
the  growth  of  every  child,  as  innocence  prattles  and 
toddles  itself  into  wilfulness. 

From  whence  comes  this  "minded  man"?  Human 
mind  is  not  life,  nor  of  life.  It  is  not  found  in  infancy 
though  it  seems  to  show  itself  soon  after  birth.  If  of 
human  growth,  it  must  also  have  human  decay.  Call  it 
reason,  if  you  prefer,  and  then  define  it.  Does  there  live, 
or  has  there  ever  Hved,  two  men  who  reasoned  alike?  No. 
Then  it  necessarily  follows  that  if  one  man  reasoned  cor- 
rectly, all  the  rest  of  humanity  must  be  more  or  less  mis- 
taken.   This  is  why  I  call  reason  the  "great  unreliable." 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  14S 

Let  us  not  by  any  means  undervalue  reason,  made  for 
our  servant,  but  let  no  man  "bow  down  before  it",  for  in  so 
doing,  he  breaks  the  first  commandment.  He  dishonors 
the  one,  true  and  only  GOD ! 

Human  reason  is  only  too  ready  to  be  drawn  into 
companionship  with  evil.  Who  shall  say  that  the  history 
of  evil  (the  devil)  did  not  begin  with  the  fourth  verse  of 
the  second  chapter  of  Genesis?  Here  begins  the  second 
account  of  creation,  in  which  after  "there  went  up  a  mist 
from  the  earth,"  the  "Adam  man",  is  formed  out  of  the 
"dust  of  the  ground"  (like  child's  play),  and  a  little  later 
a  helpmate  is  made  for  him,  from  one  of  his  own  ribs! 
So  runs  the  description  of  the  Adam  family,  made  in  the 
UNLIKENESS  of  God.     A  cloudy,  unsatisfactory  pair. 

Now,  this  family,  it  is  stated,  were  put  in  possession  of 
a  home,  free  from  care  or  labor  and  given  all  they  needed 
and  yet  were  unsatisfied.  Knowledge  was  what  they 
wanted.  The  serpent  (Leviathan,  Devil)  gratuitously  in- 
formed them  how  to  obtain  it,  and  humanity  has  been 
working  perilously,  by  or  through  it,  ever  since — regard- 
less oftentimes  of  that  Spirit  voice,  which  whispers  to 
the  well-intentioned,  warns  the  careless,  rebukes  falsity, 
and  thunders  to  wickedness, — "Thou  shalt  have  no  other 
gods  before  ME !" 

How  vast  and  absolute  is  the  separateness  of  the  man 
of  "dust",  the  extreme  dissimilarity,  of  that  which  is  firm 
and  reliable, — when  compared  with  the  man  "created  in 
the  image  of  God  !" — Spiritual  man  ! 

We,  perhaps,  look  at  and  think  of  (no  offense  now — 
nor  unkindness),  Prof.  Wise  or  the  Rev.  Dr.  Goodman 
or  of  Bishop  Smiley,  as  types  of  excellent  men  and  mis- 
takenly call  them  very-spiritual-men.  So!  Job  will  tell 
you  that  he  never  saw  a  representative  of  spiritual  man 
until  Elihu  came  to  him.     He  will  also  say  that  the  really 


146  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

spiritual  man  is  never  seen  by  mortal  eye,  nor  heard  by 
human  ear,  because  he  is  the  likeness  of  God,  Spirit.  He 
will,  moreover,  declare  and  make  it  plain  that  the  spiritual 
man  (Likeness  of  God)  has  Life;  while  the  man  of  "dust" 
has  the  "breath  of  life",  "breathed  into  his  nostrils." 
Isaiah  says,  "Cease  ye  from  man,  whose  breath  is  in  his 
nostrils:  for  wherein  is  he  to  be  accounted  of?"  Did 
Isaiah  here  refer  to  the  reasoning  man, — the  great  Unre- 
liable? 

I  am  really  anxious  to  stop ;  and  will  therefore  try  to 
mention  the  name  of  my  elder  brother  but  little  more. 

If  you,  reader,  will  take  the  advice  of  Job,  drawn  from 
the  experience  of  thousands  of  years  ago,  you  will  go  to 
your  home,  take  up  your  Bible  (or  perhaps  take  it  down 
from  its  neglected  shelf)  and  study  the  two  accounts  of 
creation,  until  you  are  able  to  understand  to  a  tangible 
extent,  the  absolute  separateness  between  the  Spiritual 
man, — and  the  reasoning  man. 

Then  you  may  be  able  to  read  and  to  understand  the 
Book  of  Books,  as  never  before.  You  will  realize  this 
saying  of  Jesus  "that  which  is  born  of  the  flesh,  is  flesh ; 
and  that  which  is  born  of  the  Spirit,  is  Spirit."  (John  3  :6.) 

Spiritual  man  alone  can  comprehend  Spiritual  truth. 
Human  reason  is  of  the  earth,  earthy.     (1st  Cor.  15:48.) 

And  if  you  will  also  call  upon  Paul  and  listen  atten- 
tively to  him,  he  will  confirm  and  make  clear  this  absolute 
separateness  between  the  Spiritual  man, — and  the  reason- 
ing mind  (which  he  has  justly  named  "Carnal  Mind")  in 
"precept  upon  precept — line  upon  line."  (Isaiah  28:10-13.) 
Where  is  the  man,  wise  enough  to  comprehend  even  this 
one  chapter  (28th)  of  Isaiah  except  he  absolutely  separ- 
ates the  Spiritual  from  the  (humanly)  intellectual?  (Read 
Isaiah  27  and  28.) 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  147 

.     .  FINAL 

The  Christian  Scientist  who  reads  this  book  will  easily 
comprehend  its  meaning.  The  writer  was  brought  down 
literally  to  the  grave  and  was  raised  up  to  behold  a  new 
condition  of  life  through  Christian  Science,  which  came 
to  him  even  as  "The  Whirlwind"  came  to  Job.  (See  Chap- 
ter 38.) 

This  was  nearly  six  years  ago.  I  had  for  years  studied 
and  endeavored  to  understand  the  Bible,  but-  its  sacred 
pages  were  dim  to  my  weary  eyes.  Theology  gave  me 
little  or  no  light.  I  revered  and  loved  the  life  and  char- 
acter of  Jesus,  so  far  as  I  could  understand  it,  and  also 
often  read  from  Paul.  The  value  of  the  old  testament 
seemed  to  rest  chiefly  in  Psalms,  Proverbs  and  Ecclesi- 
astes.  I  could  see  little  in  the  books  of  Moses  or  the 
prophets.  Job  seemed  .one  of  the  most  instructive  books 
in  the  old  testament.  I  became  a  member  of  the  Unitar- 
ian and  the  Universalist  churches,  thinking  them  in  ad- 
vance of  what  is  called  orthodoxy,  and  to  sum  up,  was  an 
unsatisfied  Christian. 

While  in  this  state  of  thought,  I  wrote  three  books  on 
the  subject  of  religion.  The  first  found  much  fault  with 
creeds  and  the  divided  and  inharmonious  beliefs  of  the 
varying  organizations,  which  make  up  the  most  of  Chris- 
tianity; also  with  the  leaders  and  controllers  of  such  or- 
ganizations, but  not  with  the  members.  The  second  was 
an  attempt  to  review  parts  of  the  Bible ;  an  example  of 
"darkening  counsel  by  words  without  knowledge,"  and 
was  decidedly  worse  than  the  former.  The  third  was  the 
result  of  looking  (superficially)  into  Confucianism,  Bud- 
dhism, etc.,  and  naturally  enough  in  the  order  of  climax, 
worse  than  either  of  its  predecessors.  The  three  taken 
together  were  not  distinctly  good  nor  wholly  bad,  but 


148  JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS 

only  illustrated  the  tangled  condition  of  unsatisfied  Chris- 
tians. Perhaps  their  number  is  increasing,  for  many  in- 
deed are  asking  "why"?  They  are  not  satisfied  by  un- 
proved and  uncertain  assertions,  which  often  conflict  one 
with  another.  Theology  is  being  called  upon  to  answer 
questions  as  never  before. 

Permit  me,  my  theological  brother,  for  humanity's 
sake,  to  ask  just  one;  predicating  as  follows: 

1st.     Jesus  healed  the  sick  by  Divine  power. 

2nd.  Commanded  his  disciples  also  to  do  the  same 
and  they  obeyed  him. 

3rd.  He  said,  "He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works 
that  I  do  shall  he  do  also."  (John  14:12.) 

4th.  Let  us  carefully  consider  Matthew  28th,  begin- 
ning at  verse  18.  "And  Jesus  came  and  spake  unto  them, 
saying,  All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in 
earth.  Go  ye,  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations — teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded 
you ;  and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of 
the  world." 

Now  in  all  kindness,  my  brother,  this  is.  the  question 
referred  to:  If  Christ  is  "with  you  alway,"  why  are  you 
not  teaching  us,  even  in  this  age,  "to  observe  all"  his  com- 
mandments, including  healing  the  sick? 

Today  Christian  Science  is  following  this  command. 
Today  it  is  reforming  the  sinner  and  healing  the  sick.  To- 
day it  is  raising  thousands  of  sufferers  from  beds  of  pain. 
Today  it  is  restoring  sight  to  blinded  and  weary  eyes.  To- 
day it  is  a  means  of  enabling  the  lame  to  walk.  Today 
it  is  overcoming  all  manner  of  disease.  Today  it  is  re- 
claiming and  transforming  those  who  have  been  slaves 
to  liquor  and  tobacco.  Today  it  is  giving  its  members 
a  greater  love  for,  and  understanding  of,  the  Bible.  Today 
it  is  enabling  them  to  realize  that  Spiritual  control,  both 


JOB  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  149 

of  the  human  mind  and  the  human  body,  is  a  present 
possibility. 

Thousands  of  earnest  and  sincere  testimonies  of  all 
these  benefits  are  repeated  by  grateful  hearts  in  the  Wed- 
nesday evening  meetings  in  Christian  Science  Churches, 
and  happy  faces  verify  the  truth  of  their  words. 
Similar  attestations  are  published  in  Christian  Science 
books  and  periodicals.  But  the  final  influence  which  sat- 
isfies man,  is  that  which  comes  completely  through  his 
own  consciousness.  Therefore  am  I  happy  in  saying  I  am 
a  Christian  Scientist ! 

Happy  am  I,  indeed,  to  realize  what  Christian  Science 
has  done  for  me,  in  healing  my  body  from  pain  and  suf- 
fering and  in  reclaiming  my  mistaken  human  mind 
through  its  message  of  truth  and  divine  love. 

Happy  am  I  in  witnessing  its  healing  and  saving  ef- 
fect upon  others. 

Happy  am  I  in  looking  at  the  faces  of  hundreds  of 
men  and  women,  who  are  today  turning  to  Christian 
Science,  hearing  its  voice  and  longing  to  know  more 
of  it. 

Happy  am  I  in  the  firm  belief  that  this  is  the  re- 
stored Christianity  which  can  save  the  world. 

Happy  am  I  in  a  better  comprehension  of  myself  and 
a  higher  understanding  of  the  teachings  of  the  Bible. 

These  facts  are  unfolding  and  growing  more  clear: 

The  Christian  must  realize  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven 
within. 

In  this  Kingdom,  the  reign  of  the  Spiritual  man,  must 
be  recognized  and  maintained. 

This,  the  government  of  Soul,  will  free  the  human 
mind  from  sin  and  sorrow,  and  the  human  body,  from 
sickness  and  pain. 

This  condition  must  be  attained  now  or  hereafter. 


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